Medview Airline
By Our Reporter
To say Medview Airline is literally swimming in troubled waters is like stating the obvious.
NATIONAL WAVES can authoritatively inform you that the airline’s properties at Olowu, Ikeja and Lekki were sealed by policemen executing a court order over an alleged N4 billon debt.
Reacting to the development, the airline said it was unaware of any suit filed by the bank, let alone any court order giving it the right to seal the property.
Its management said it was engaged in a dispute with a first-generation bank over an alleged N4 billion debt.
The airline said its lawyer had served the bank with a pre-action protocol notice when it refused to release its documents after sale of its aircraft to offset the loan.
Medview’s counsel, Mr Lawal Pedro, who condemned the sealing of the property, said he had read the ex-parte order made by Justice Lawal Akapo in suit: ID/6251/GCMW/22 on November 22.
He said it does not include possession or sealing of the property.
Pedro said what the court granted was for preservation of assets of the airline from sale or other alienation pending compliance with pre-action protocol procedure by the bank.
Besides, he said the bank was yet to file an action in respect of the alleged debt.
Pedro accused the bank of desperation, engaging in forum shopping and an abuse of court process.
He alleged the bank obtained additional two ex-parte orders in different suits on the same subject matter.
The second and third eorders were granted by Justice Oluyemi in suits: ID/6241/GCMW/22 and ID/6243/GCMW/22 on November 22.
They were on the take-over of the home of the airline’s Managing Director at Olabanji Olajide Street off Admiralty Way Lekki Phase 1, pending compliance with pre-action protocol procedures by the bank.
Pedro said: “We are amazed at today’s (yesterday’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 the validity having regard to the denial of such liability by the airline after the sale of its aircraft 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 (yesterday) morning when policemen invaded our client’s properties in Ikeja and Lekki, chased everyone away and sealed the properties as if the final judgement had been awarded in favour of the bank on the alleged debt.
“We believe that this is an illegality and institution like the bank with its full complement of a legal department and which we owe in high esteem should not be involved in this type of action.
“We are taking appropriate steps to seek justice and remedy for our clients by due process of law.”
First Bank and Medview Airline have been at loggerheads over the said debt.
