Posted by By Wale Igbintade, Snr Reporter, Lagos on
The issue of who takes control of the companies of the late Augustine Ilodibe, owner of Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Limited has become a subject of litigation, as his widow, Udioyibo Ilodibe, filed a suit against her eldest son, Ekenedilichukwu Ilodibe, at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The issue of who takes control of the companies of the late Augustine Ilodibe, owner of Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Limited has become a subject of litigation, as his widow, Udioyibo Ilodibe, filed a suit against her eldest son, Ekenedilichukwu Ilodibe, at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
In the suit, filed before Justice Aro Lambo, against her first son, Udioyibo and seven of her other children prayed the court to restrain her son (Ekenedilichukwu Ilodibe), from parading himself as acting Group Managing Director or Group Chairman of Ekenedilichukwu Group of Companies or assuming any administrative actions, pending the determination of the suit.
The petitioners, who claimed to be shareholders of the late Ilodibe business, sought an order of the court, directing Ekenedilichukwu to render an account of his alleged unauthorised management of the companies.
In a sworn affidavit by Barrister Ikechukwu Ubahakwe, it was stated that Augustine Ilodibe, who died on July I, 2007 was until his death, the Chairman/Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ekenedilichukwu Group of Companies.
The affidavit further stated that upon the death of Ilodibe, his eldest son (Ekenedilichukwu) assumed office as the sole owner of the deceased's six companies.
The plaintiffs further alleged that based on the purported unlawful usurpation, the defendant embarked on acts of oppression of the plaintiffs, as he single-handedly appointed one Dipo Okpeseyi as the Group Company Secretary to the companies, leaving out the erstwhile company secretary, S. I. Nwankwo, a legal practitioner, who has also challenged the notice of annual general meeting of the company issued by Okpeseyi.
The petitioners further stated that a state of confusion has arisen since the purported take over of their late father's properties by the eldest son after his death.
They maintained that unless urgent action is taken to restrain Ekenedilichukwu and Dipo Okpeseyi, they would cause irreparable damages to the affairs of the companies and prejudice the petitioners and other shareholders.
They further added that it would be in the interest of all the parties for the eldest son to render account of all the funds of each of the companies, which has been in his control since the demise of their father.