Supreme Court judgement: Innoson Group replies GTBank

Head of Communication for Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, says the Supreme Court judgement delivered on February 27, 2019, would be carried out on Guaranty Trust Bank, not on the Nigeria Customs Service.

In a statement released on Sunday, Osigwe described a statement released by the bank as being economical with the truth.

“GTB in a Press Statement signed by Erhi Obebeduo claims that “the judgment allegedly in issue is in respect of Proceedings against the account of the Nigerian Customs Service Board domiciled with the Bank and not against the Bank as an entity”. GTB by this claim is nothing short of being economical with the truth,” he wrote.

“The Garnishee order absolute issued by the Federal High Court Ibadan in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/603/2006 ordered GTB to pay Innoson Nigeria Ltd the judgment sum of N2.4 Billion with a 22% interest, per annum, on the judgment sum until the final liquidation of the judgment.

“GTB appealed the Federal High Court’s decision up to the Supreme Court and lost. From the Supreme Court’s decision, you will find that the case was between GTB and Innoson Nigeria Ltd and no other person.”

Osigwe explained that GT Bank would have to set aside money to settle the judgment debt which is now set at N8.8 billion after interest that took effect since 2011.

“In this case, the order was made absolute since 29th July 2011 and GTB held unto the money from that time and is using for its business.

“It follows that by the time the order was made absolute it was no more the judgment debtor’s money but rather that of Innoson Nigeria Ltd who is the judgment creditor; if a garnishee refuses to comply with the order, then, it becomes a judgment debtor, as GTB has become in the present case, against whom execution of the order will issue.”