Court adjourns N42m alleged debt case to April 20 

Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Oyo State has adjourned a case filed by First Bank Nigeria (FBN) and a firm, Read Agricultural Manufacturing Industry Limited (in receivership) against the firm’s directors, Mr. Remi Alabi and Mrs Ngozi Nwauma Alabi over alleged N42 million debt to April 20, 2023.

Justice Agomoh announced the adjournment to enable the court look into some amendments made by counsel to the defendants, Chief Richard Ogunwole (SAN), seeking for a relief from the court.

According Justice Agomoh, the adjournment for the ruling was necessary to allow the court look into the issues brought by Chief Ogunwole during the hearing of the case.

In the case marked PHC/IB/CS//104/18, Chief Ogunwole (SAN) had requested the court to grant his application in the last paragraph of his document.

He said: “Bone of contention today is that we want an amendment on an application of relief, which we filed but due to the nature of the court, the court did not hear us, and what we are claiming is based on what we have joined in our statement of claim.”

Counsel to FBN, Mr. Justice Akose, said Chief Ogunwole (SAN) was bringing in some new issues, which he (Akose) should have the opportunity to respond to some.

“All I’m saying is that we have the right to respond to the new issues brought in by the counsel for the defendants,” Akose said.

Meanwhile, when the case came up on May 17, 2022, Mr. Akose, called his witness, who was cross-examined by Chief Ogunwole.

The cross examination continued till May 18. 
   
The witness was the bank’s Business Manager.

At the end of cross-examination, the door was opened for Chief Ogunwole to call his own witness at the next adjourned day.

His witness is expected to testify in subsequent sittings.