Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports suffered an ignominious seizure of its assets wednesday when three companies bundled away some of the properties belonging to it over a debt valued at just N9.9 million.
For failing to pay up the debt, the companies shocked officials, when they impounded three buses, a Hilux truck and two Mikano generators from its premises.
The companies were, Zeminex Nig. Ltd, Micnovos Nig. Ltd and B.N. Donagel Ltd.
They were executing an order granted them in 2010 by an FCT High Court, in respect of the debt owed them by the ministry.
Though the debt was not in contention, the seized assets were comparatively above the liability.
Nwude I. Emmanuel, the principal partner of Ifeanyi Nwude & Associates law firm, led the companies and court bailiff in enforcing the court order yesterday afternoon.
“We are obeying the judgment of the court following the failure of the Ministry of Sports to pay the debt owed our clients since 2010. The total liability is N9.9 million, but the matter can be resolved if the ministry begins to make payment of the debt, even on instalment basis,” Nwude clarify.
THISDAY learnt that the case was heard on May 12, 2016 and judgment given on March 6, 2017.
Although sources in the ministry claimed that the matter was referred to the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, no efforts were made to respect the court order before the bailiffs stormed the ministry t5o cart away the assets wednesday.
No official of the ministry was willing to make any official statement on the matter when THISDAY sought the reaction of some directors.
“What do you want me to tell you? You witnessed what happened here now. Go to the minister’s office to find out why the debts were not paid despite the court judgment before this embarrassment,†retorted an angry official of the ministry to our reporter wednesday.
