Alleged N5.5bn Debt: Honeywell, Ecobank Suit Resumes Afresh

Legal battle between Honeywell Flour Mill Plc and Ecobank Plc over disputed N5.5 billion debt resumed afresh Thursday before Justice Ayotunde Faji of the  Federal High Court, Lagos.

The legal hostility have to commence afresh  due to the former trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris elevation to the Court of Appeal.

It would be recalled that at the last hearing of the matter, Justice Idris (now Appeal Court Judge) adjourned the matter indefinitely following an interlocutory  appeal filed by Ecobank PLC challenging his refusal to recuse himself from hearing the matter.

However, at the resumed hearing of the matter today, both parties agreed to adopt all exhibits and statements on oath earlier tendered in the matter before the trial judge, Justice Idris and the court consequently consented to the agreement.

Upon the consent of both parties, the first plaintiff’s witness, Oluwakemi Olanrewaju Owasonoye, Head of Treasury/Finance of Honeywell Group of Companies, who was led in evidence by Honeywell’s lawyer, Mr. Olabode Olanipekun (SAN),  was subsequently asked to enter the witness box so as to adopt her earlier statements on oath, which she did.

Following the plaintiff’s witness adoption of her  statements on oath, lawyer to Ecobank Plc, Mr. Divine Agbua informed the court of a pending motion to call additional witness dated March 7, 2018, this was moved and subsequently granted by the trial judge.

Ecobank Plc’s lawyer also sought for an adjournment till Friday, to cross-examined the plaintiff’s witness.

This matter was subsequently adjourned till tomorrow for further hearing.

The suit which was filed by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, and its sister company – Anchorage Leisures Ltd against Ecobank Nigeria Limited is urging the court to hold that they are not indebted to Ecobank.

However, Ecobank Plc is claiming that Honeywell and its sister companies are indebtedness to it in the said sum.