Polaris Bank MD, Innocent C. Ike
By Our Reporter
The relationship between two financial institutions in Nigeria, Polaris Bank (formerly Skye Bank) and VEP Equity Limited which started on a very cordial note has gone frosty. They are now entangled in a prolonged legal tussle over the loan.
Problems started between the duo over two different loan facilities granted through a Skye Bank offer letter in July, 25th, 2006 to VEP Equity Limited.
The loan totaling N500, 000, 000, 00 was paid in trenches of 250, 000, 000, 00 into VEP Equity Limited’s accounts numbers 1011770014560 and 1011770027905.
The loan was said to be secured amongst others by a legal ownership of shares financed and valued in excess of 250 Million, hypothecation of a shrinkage margin of 75 Million Naira to be provided in cash or stocks and full unconditional personal guarantee of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the company, Mr. Edward Ajayi.
The second trenches of 250 Million was said to have been secured by a legal ownership of the shares financed valued in excess of 325 Million Naira (130% of the facility amount) and with the full uncondition personal guarantee of the CEO, Edward Ajayi.
VEP Equity, according to Polaris Bank also secured another loan with an offer letter dated 4th of July, 2007. The sum of One Billion Naira was said to have been released to the company. This loan, according to Polaris Bank, was secured by legal ownership of shares and financed in excess of One Billion Naira and personal guarantee of the company’s CEO.
The bank granted what it describes as Advance Only, a sum of two hundred and fifty million as a loan facility to VEP Equity Limited on March, 13th, 2008.
The relationship between Polaris Bank and VEP Equity Limited literally hit the rock when the bank claimed that the third loan which was secured by a piece of land measuring 1439.881 square meters, situated at Oniru Family Private Layout, Lekki, Lagos belonging to one Dr. Jaiye Oyedotun, and other collateral will be sold. This according to the bank is because the company is indebted to the bank, a sum of N2, 828,582,154, 77 (Two Billion, Eight Hundred twenty Eight Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Four Naira, Seventy Seven Kobo, and that there’s no hope the company would repay the loans it hitherto secured.
This did not go down well with VEP Equity Limited which denied being indebted to Polaris Bank, alleging the bank of excessive and illegal charges. The company sought for a court order to compel Polaris Bank to refund the sum of N14, 901, 883, 437, 70. The company also sought for a court injunction to compel Polaris Bank to pay 100% penalties if it fail to refund the said money.
Efforts to make Rasheed Bolarinwa of the corporate communication department of Polaris Bank react to the development were not successful, as he was yet to respond to our enquiries as at the time of filling his report
