AMCON takes possession of Demola Seriki’s properties over N1bn debt

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has taken over some properties belonging to Ademola Seriki, a former minister of state for defence, for debts totalling N1 billion.

TheCable understands that the affected properties include those located at No. 1a & 1b, Jalupon Close, Surulere, Lagos and another at No. 4, Djibouti Crescent, a high-brow area of Wuse 2, Abuja.

Chuka Austine Obiozor, a justice of the federal high court in Lagos, delivered the judgement that empowered AMCON to seize the properties in Lagos and Abuja.

AMCON said the non-performing loans of Seriki was sold to AMCON by the now-defunct Oceanic Bank and Skye Bank.

“The case between AMCON and Seriki, who was a former minister of state for defence as well as a former supervising minister for mines and steel development have been lingering for a while now,” Jude Nwauzor, AMCON’s head of corporate communications said.

“Ideally, AMCON does not in the first instance resort to the courts except when the obligor defiles all overtures from the corporation for a peaceful resolution of an obligation. But the case between AMCON vs Ademola Seriki eventually ended up in court because all efforts made by AMCON to have the issue resolved peacefully did not yield the desired result.

“Therefore, the corporation pursued justice in court and in compliance to the order of the court of competent jurisdiction, AMCON on Monday through Oak Partners, who works for the corporation as one of the asset management partners (AMPs) having also received protective orders from the court, took possession of the said properties belonging to the former minister.

“When all efforts to amicably resolve the loan was frustrated by the former minister and a prominent member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the corporation was left with no other choice than to defer the matter to court. Having looked at the case over time, the court ordered AMCON to take over the assets of the APC chieftain.”

According to Nwauzor, AMCON carried out the court order on Monday.