A’Ibom CAN Chairman, Eight Others Dragged to Court Over Non-payment of Loans

Okon Bassey

Nine senior members of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have been dragged to court by a financial institution in the state for non-payment of loans, 10 years after the facility was granted.

In the suit instituted in an Uyo High Court, the financial outfit, Prudential Co-operative Micro-finance Bank Limited is demanding the payment of N77, 006 million from the defendants, being the total amount indebted to the bank as at the month of April and May, 2018.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Micro-finance Bank, Ubokutom Nyah told THISDAY that the money was part of the N100 million that the administration of the immediate past governor of the state now Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio gave to members of CAN in the state as a revolving loan to boost their businesses or enterprises.

Nyah explained that the Prudential Co-operative Microfinance Bank Ltd was one of the Banks where part of the N100 million was lodged for disbursement to the members of CAN doing various businesses in the state.

Some of the former and present CAN executive members dragged to court for failure to pay back their loans include the current state chairman of CAN, Rev. Ndueso A. Ekwere, former state chairman of CAN, Archbishop Cletus Bassey, Rev. Idara Ideh, Elijah I. Harrison and Elder (Mrs) Ann Ita Okon.

Also joined in the suits as sureties or guarantors for the loans - Rev. Paulinus I. Orok, Dr. Emmanuel Martins, Rev. Effiong J. Ekoi and Rev. Edet Obongishe

Counsel to the applicant or claimant, Mr. Ndifreke Akpan and seven others from the Star Attorneys Chamber, Uyo, instituted the case separately against the defendants in suits no HU/254,213,211,209,212/2018.