Court orders status quo in First Bank, British school’s dispute

A Federal High Court in Abuja has asked the First Bank Plc and the management of Whiteplains British School Limited to maintain status quo over the bank’s alleged attempt to take-over the school.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba last week ruled that in view of the nature of the suit, he will be passing the casefile to another judge, Justice Binta Nyako, who had ruled on the matter in 2015.

Whiteplains school is claiming that the Tripartite Mortgage Agreement, which was presented to the court by the school was forged, and the criminal complaint is being investigated by the Nigeria Police.

Counsel to Whiteplains, Chukwu MachukwuUme (SAN) yesterday informed the court that First Bank’s receiver, Mr Bola Olotu had breached the judgment of Justice Binta Nyako not to go near the school to traumatize the students but to request earnings sharing formular for the recoupment of the N619m facility granted the school. He said despite the order, the bank violated the rules of court by sealing off the school on a Sunday earlier this year, without the court’s sheriff or clerks. But First Bank’s lawyer, Soji Toki, in his submission said his client was not interested in the taking over of the school, adding that the bank and its receiver did not violate any of the orders of court as alleged by MachukwuUme.

The matter has been adjourned to September 17 for hearing.