Court Orders Services Of Witness Summons On Oba Otudeko Over Alleged N5.5b Debt
A Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday ordered Ecobank Nigeria Limited to Serve witness summons on the alter ego of Honeywell group Plc, Dr Oba Otudeko in relation to an alleged N5.5billion debt allegedly owed the bank.
Justice Mohammed Idris order the service of the subpoena, witness summons on Otudeko, while delivering a ruling in a suit filed by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, and its sister companies, Anchorage Leisures Limited and Siloam Global Limited, against Ecobank Nigeria Limited, challenging the alleged indebtedness.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday the defence counsel, O.A Divine had told the court that it intended to call the arrow head of Honeywell group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, as its first witness.
The lawyer had also informed the court that a subpoena had been issued on the witness, who had acknowledged the summons, but had allegedly decided to ignore same.
Divine then urged the court to grant an adjournment, to enable the witness appear in court and give evidence in the case, failing which he will be moving the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and production in court.
In response, Otudeko’s lawyer, Bode Olanipekun (SAN) claimed that the said subpoena was probably served on the intended witness recently, he urged the court to look at its record.
He submitted that this was a ploy to further frustrate the suit, since the defence had a second witness it could call instead of the first.
After a going through its records, the court held that the subpoena was only served on the witness on February 6, through a third party, and not personally on Oba Otudeko.
Justice Idris then ordered that, “In the light of the above, i will redirect that proper service of the subpoena be effected personally on the witness, to enable him attend court, and i urge counsel to cooperate in this light,”
Also during Wednesday proceedings, Divine informed the court that he had two applications dated January 26 and January 29 respectively, but urged the court to allow him move the application dated January 26, which is seeking for a stay of proceedings in the suit.
Olanipekun, after confirming receipt of the said applications, urged that the latter application of January 29, be dismissed if the defendant was not inclined to moving same, adding that he was prepared to withdraw his objection if the defendant is prepared to move the applications.
The court consequently, struck out the application dated January 29, while it urged the defence to move the application dated January 26.
While moving his application for stay of proceedings, defence counsel, Divine, told the court that the application was supported by a 19 paragraphs affidavit, as well a written address filed on same date.
According to Divine, the crux of the application, is that, on December 21, 2017, the court had delivered a ruling in which it refused its (Ecobank) motion for stay of proceedings, irrespective of the its notice of appeal.
He said that the applicant being aggrieved by that ruling, had filed a notice of appeal before the court, urging it to grant same, as it does not share similar jurisdiction with the court of appeal.
He argued that if the application is not granted, it will render nugatory the outcome of the appeal it filed.
In opposition with a 20 paragraph counter affidavit, Olanipekun argued that firstly, that the applicant’s affidavit in support of his motion, had no seal attached, adding that it is a requirement of rules 10 of the rules of professional conduct.
Again, he argued that reliefs three of the applicant’s interlocutory application, is for a stay of proceedings in the trial court, adding that the trial court cannot grant the final relief which the applicant is asking the Appellate court to grant.
He argued that the applicant had not also exhibited due diligence as they have not even transmitted their records of appeal, adding that the appeal predicating the instant one, was not even ripe for hearing.
He urged the court to dismiss the application, and order the applicant to open his case and call his witness, so that the case could proceed.
In his ruling, justice Idris held that having taken a cursory look at the records before him, the court is of the view that the reliefs sought by the applicant are to be decided by the appellate court.
The court accordingly, struck out the application.
The court consequently adjourned the case until Thursday, February 8 for continuation of hearing