Vigeo Boss, Victor Osibodu Barred From Operating Accounts In 17 Banks …Over N8.7bn Debt

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A Federal high court sitting in Lagos south west Nigeria has restrained a Lagos businessman Mr Victor Osibodu and his company Vigeo limited and their agents from dealing with in what ever form monies under their control in 17 commercial banks in Nigeria pending the determination of a claim of N8,701,770,328.83 suit filed against them by Ecobank.

The court also ordered the affected banks to freeze  and not to carry out any transaction on the accounts of the defendants and they should depose to an affidavit disclosing the nature, value, and balances in their custody.

The court also restrained Mr Victor Osibodu and his agents from dealing in or howsoever dissipating all his movable assets including, but not limited to the following :
1.Shareholding of 80% in the property at 6 Osborne Road Ikoyi Lagos
2.Shareholding in the sum of N2,578,242,789.05 with Stanbic Bank, MTN and ETI
3.Shareholdings in the following companies where Victor Osibodu has Shares :
a. Benin Electricity Distribution company
b.Art Trade limited
c. Pacific Creations Limited
d.Goldrunner Limited
e.Standard Communications limited.
f.I.C.E.L. Resources Investment Limited.
g. Corporate Precision Limited.
h. Grandview Limited.
i. Vigeo International Insulation Company Ltd. j. International Insulation Company Ltd. k. Global Utilities management Ltd. l. Golden Heights Limited.

According to an affidavit sworn to by a banker at Ecobank Nigeria limited Adeniran Ojora and filed before the court by a Law Firm of Simmons Cooper Partners ,it was alleged that Ecobank granted several loan facilities to the defendants as follows :

By a duly executed offer of Multiple Credit facility dated April 10,2007 “Dollar Facility 1&2 the bank approved the grant of the sums of US$ 15 million and $1,750.000.By another duly executed offer of Multiple Credit Facility dated April10,2007 Naira facility 1,2&3 the bank approved the grant of the sums of N200million,N750million and N350million respectively in favour of Victor Osibodu., He executed a personal Guarantee and a duly notarized statement of Networth dated August 16,2007.The statement of Net worth provides particulars of his personal assets worth N2,002,400,000 billion.for the security of the loan in the event that he defaults in the repayment of the loan.

By a Term loan facility dated August 1,2008 and duly executed by the bank and Vigeo limited on August 8,2008.the bank approved US$2million ,it was agreed that the bank would make an equity contribution of 80% in the sum of US$1,600,000 and Victor Osibodu would make a contribution of 20% in the sum of US$400,000 towards financing of the dry docking exercise. In addition to the legal Mortgage over the company and the personal guarantee of Victor Osibodu  backed up by notarized statement of networth.

In 2009 the bank approved US$1million in favour of Vigeo Company by a Promissory note dated June 30,2007 and duly executed by its Director and Secretary. The company undertook to pay the sum US$1million only on 30th June 2013 being due date fixed by the promissory note.

Further to the personal guarantee as stated above Victor Osibodu provided a notarized statement of his net worth which valued his net worth as N2,871,984,896.49,all these loans were at one time or the other restructured.

In a letter dated June 27,2014 the bank informed Vigeo company that its account had remained non-performing as the company had failed to make the agreed loan repayments. The bank also provided Victor Osibodu ‘s outstanding loan obligations which stood at N719,332,948.38 due for 365 days and US$13,074,478.40 due for 365 days and US$4,114.28 due 390 days.

As a consequence of Victor Osibodu ‘s failure to repay the outstanding sums as at August 1,2016 the bank formally called in his personal guarantee of  by demanding the immediate payment of N869,794,650.56 and US$16,381,292.52 on or before September, 2016.

As at 6th December, 2016, the Vigeo Company total outstanding indebtedness stood at N8,123,327,459.83.

However, upon payment of the amount realised from the sale of the share of Victor Osibodu the company’s outstanding indebtedness reduced to N7,526,112,446.84

Victor Osibodu as the Chairman of Vigeo Company was alleged to have specifically involved in negotiating the loan facilities from 2007 to 2014.while Vigeo company was typically involved in the approval process of the loan facilities from 2007 to 2014.

Ojora averred further that Victor Osibodu has begun to dispose of his shares in blue chip companies having been made aware that the bank had dispose his shares which were used as part security for the loan granted the Vigeo company,

Vigeo company is under his control with stake in different subsidiaries and is capable of removing its assets including money and shareholdings from jurisdiction of this country to its company in the United Kingdom (Vigeo International limited or rendering same untraceable if urgent steps are not taken to protect the bank’s interest.
Osibodu was also alleged to currently operating and runs over 250 accounts in 14 commercial banks in Nigeria for himself and on behalf of Vigeo under several names and business combinations,and he has been using these accounts to set off payments in his other businesses thus making it difficult for the bank to collect payments from him.

Therefore the deponent averred that the bank undertakes to give comprehensive indemnity to the defendants, should it turn out that the bank’s claim is frivolous and unmeritorious.

In his ruling, justice Saliu Saidu,restrained Vigeo company and its Chairman Victor Osibodu from removing or transferring, dealing in or  however dissipating all their movable assets up to the Plaintiff ‘s claim of the sum of N8,701,770,328.83.pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The defendants were also barred from operating their accounts domicile in 17 commercial banks in Nigeria pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The case has been adjourned till next week for mention.

-Niyi Serekode

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