Medview Airline Kicks As First Bank Seals Properties Over Alleged N4bn Debt

Medview Airline has condemned Mondays early morning invasion and sealing of its properties located at Olowu, Ikeja and Lekki in Lagos State by a team of policemen under the guise of executing a court order to take possession of the properties over an alleged N4bn Debt with First Bank LTD.

The Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Muneer Bankole told newsmen on Monday that the company lawyers had served First bank with a pre-action notice after the bank refused to release its documents following the sale of its Aircrafts to offset the loan and that it is unaware of any suit filed by the Bank not to talk of any court order giving the bank right to seal it’s properties.

Counsel to the airline, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), condemned the invasion. He said he has read a copy of the ex-parte order made by Hon Justice Lawal Akapo in Suit No. ID/6251/GCMW/22 delivered on November 22, 22, that it did not include possession or sealing of the properties.

According to him, what the court granted was for a preservation of the assets of the airline, from sale or other alienation pending compliance with the pre-action protocol.

He said the action was a display of desperation and engaging in forum shopping and abuse of court process.

Pedro added that the bank obtained additional two ex parte orders in different suits on same subject matter.

“The second and third ex parte orders were granted by Hon Justice Oluyemi in Suit No ID/6241/GCMW/22 and ID/6243/GCMW/22 both delivered on November 22, 2022 to take over the residential house of the Managing Director of the Airline situate at Olabanji Olajide Street off Admiralty way Lekki Phase 1, pending compliance with pre action protocol procedures by the bank.

“We are amazed at Monday’s early morning invasion and sealing of our client’s properties located at Ikeja and Lekki Lagos by ex-parte orders in respect of an alleged debt, which the court is yet to determine its validity, having regard to the denial of such liability by the Airline after the sale of its Aircrafts by the Bank.

“We have held meetings with the bank officials and exchanged correspondence on amicable resolution of any outstanding debt and for the parties to resume normal banking relationship.

“So it came to us as a rude shock this morning when policemen invaded our clients properties in Ikeja and Lekki, chased everyone away and sealed the properties as if final judgement had been awarded in favour of the bank on the alleged debt,” he lamented, adding that they are taking appropriate steps to seek justice and remedy for his clients by due process of law.