Bank tackles DN Tyre in $14.6m land dispute

The bank specifically said it was ready to contend before a Lagos High Court that the alleged land was liquidated to it following DN Tyre’s alleged inability to repay facility granted to it by the bank. DN tyre is claiming $14.6million from the bank for the alleged take-over of its land at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. D. N. Tyre is asking a Lagos High Court to compel the bank and four churches to pay $14, 659, 116 in damages and grant an injunctive order barring them from further ‘entering, blocking, encroaching on or further entering, building, developing the land which is the subject matter of this case or otherwise howsoever interfering in any manner whatsoever with the claimant’s possession of the premises.” But the bank said the alleged take-over of the land was “sequel to the inability of DN Tyre to liquidate their indebtedness to the bank as the company offered a portion of its factory complex at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja to the bank in satisfaction of the loan. Following persistent pressure and because the company was technically insolvent with no other means of repaying the loan, the bank accepted the offer with the intent of disposing same to liquidate the outstanding indebtedness of the company. A Deed of Assignment was thereafter executed between both parties and the proceeds were applied in liquidating the loan. “ It went on: “No sooner the transaction was consummated than some officials of the company began making unreasonable demands from the bank in respect of the transaction. The company resorted to threats and blackmail and refused to deliver vacant possession as a result created bottlenecks to frustrate the sale. The bank succeeded in surmounting the challenge and proceeded to register its title to the property at the Lands Registry which was subsequently sold to the Triumphant Christian Centre, which have been in possession since then. “The company had petitioned the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police on the transaction, which was dismissed based on incontrovertible evidence provided by the bank. The company subsequently filed a suit in court alleging excess charges and unlawful possession, which the bank has convincingly responded to and matter is currently pending before the Lagos High Court. The company in all their processes filed in court never contended that they did not transfer the property to the bank. It is therefore mischievous to accuse the bank outside the courtroom of illegal and forceful acquisition. Wherefore it is apt to advise the company to channel their energy towards proving their case in court instead of resorting to outright dissemination of falsehood.” The bank, however, in its consequential statement of defence denied D.N.Tyre’s allegations, claims and damages, saying it was not in any way whatsoever liable as claimed. It urged the court to dismiss it as not only unconscionable, misconceived, gold digging, frivolous, abuse of process but lacking in merit.]]>