Lokoja – A Kogi State-based entrepreneur, Mr James Ejiga Sunday, has accused his business partner, Mr Gabriel Enemona of attempting to frustrate a suit bordering on fraud and breach of contract he instituted against him in a court in Lokoja.
James, the MD/CEO of Ejigson Greener Synergy Ltd, told newsmen in Lokoja on Saturday that Onoja’s ongoing to efforts at frustrating the suit through frivolous allegations and police harassment is very unfortunate.
He said Enemona brought in police from Abuja to arrest him in Lokoja after a court proceeding on Friday, January 27.
He said police alleged that he forged Enemona’s signature in a business agreement entered into by the duo.
The businessman said Enemona who was running away from appearing in the court until the Magistrate issued a bench warrant for his arrest was now coming up with false allegation to frustrate the case and delay meeting his financial obligations to a commercial bank.
A Magistrate Court, sitting in Lokoja, had in August last year issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the popular Kogi-based philanthropist and Managing Director of PFTN, Amb. Gabriel David Enemona.
Magistrate Abdullahi Mopah issued the warrant following Gabriel’s continued failure to present himself for trial over alleged fraud involving a credit facility from a commercial bank.
When the case came up for hearing on August 18, 2022, counsel to the complainant, Shadrach Ekpa, represented by Stephen Akpala, told the court that the hearing notice has been served Gabriel since August 8 but he failed to appear in court.
While citing section 111 of the Kogi state administration of criminal justice law, he therefore prayed the court to issue a bench warrant to arrest Gabriel so as to compel him to appear before the court in the next sitting.
The trial judge, Abdullahi Mopah, who acceded to the prayers of the counsel, frowned at situations where litigants take court proceedings with levity and therefore ordered that a bench warrant be issued against Gabriel to compel him to appear the court.
Speaking on Enemona’s arm twisting attempt, James said “I am unruffled by Enemona’s latest tactics to evade justice and pay the loan accessed from FCMB for his business.
“He had earlier reported me to the Police and I was invited for questioning.
“I honoured the police invitation and insisted that his allegations be thoroughly investigated to know if I indeed forged his signature as alleged.
“As my counsel and I stepped off the court room in Lokoja on Friday, the police approached me and requested I follow them.
“I obliged them and followed them to Abuja. I am a law-abiding citizen and I operate my business under the law.
“If Enemona is sincerely assured that I forged his signature as alleged, let’s allow the courts decide.”
James insisted that the business agreements were duly signed by Enemona and other witnesses.
The management of Ejigson Greener Synergy Ltd, a company involved in coal business in Kogi State, had dragged Gabriel Enemona to court over a breach in business agreement involving the sum of N17.5 Million being a credit facility sum granted the Complainant by the First City Monument Bank Plc, Anyigba Branch.
The MD/CEO of Ejigson Greener Synergy Ltd, Mr James Ejiga Sunday, had in an application on the 23rd July, 2022 informed the court that he was in a business partnership relationship with the Defendant (Ambassador David Gabriel), and at the prompting of the Defendant applied to the Anyigba Branch of FCMB for a business expansion facility in the sum of N17.5 Million Naira and after terms were settled, same was granted and paid into the account of the Complainant.
The Complainant further told the court that the Defendant subsequently deceived him into paying the said sum into sundry accounts in batches, claiming that same were been deployed into coal haulage business, the subject of their transaction.
The Complainant further informed the Court that the Defendant at all material time agreed to be responsible for the repayment of the credit facility sum to FCMB, including the accrued interest only for him to renege as soon as the first installment was due for payment.
According to James, the Defendant refused to carry out the terms of their agreement by delivering on coal haulage as agreed neither did he pay the already due installment of the said facility but rather severed ties with the Complainant leaving the account to suffer and putting the Complainant economic activities in total jeopardy.
