A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos has been urged to dismiss the petition of a Claimant and money lender, Mr. Babawale Alogba, for asking for claims for lack of merit.
When the case came up for hearing recently before Hon. Justice O. Ogala, the defendant agreed that he sought for funds to enhance his hotel business in December 2018 from one Mr. Ebenezer Abe.
In the course of time, the defendant received the sum of N5,000,000 from Mr. Ebenezer Abe and promptly paid back the loan with interest amounting to N5,500,000 on 25th January 2019.
Subsequently, the defendant received another loan of N6,300,000 from Mr. Ebenezer Abe and promptly paid back as agreed.
He, however, denied any knowledge of any misunderstanding between the Claimant Mr. Babawale Alogba and Mr. Ebenezer Abe.
The defendant further denied any knowledge of a written agreement concerning the transactions but agreed that the Claimant shall share out the profit to those who gave the defendant money at any time.
He challenged the Claimant to produce any document or cheques payable to him in this regard as proof.
The defendant further averred that, although Mr. Ebenezer Abe advanced him money to enhance his business, it was tabulated wrongly in that it amounted to N20,000,000 rather than N22,000,000.
The defendant further posited that he collected the sum of N2,700,000 on March 28th, 2019, N4,000,000 on May 30th 2019, N4,000,000 on 11th July 2019, and another N4,000,000 on 16th July 2019 which altogether was N14,700,000 instead of N23,000,000 as claimed by the Claimant.
Counsel to the defendant, King O. Wilson, Esq, told the court there was a preliminary objection that raised the issue of jurisdiction.
Justice Ogala later adjourned the suit till 8th October 2024 for further proceedings.
