Posted by By Anayo Okoli on
A group of traders under the umbrella of Premier Lock-up Shops Leasses, have dragged Premier Breweries PLC to court for alleged breach of contract.
Onitsha - A group of traders under the umbrella of Premier Lock-up Shops Leasses, have dragged Premier Breweries PLC to court for alleged breach of contract. The traders claimed that they bought 48 lock-up shops built by the company on Uga Street, Onitsha, Anambra State, but the company allegedly refused to execute the relevant documents transferring ownership of the shops to them.
The traders in the Suit No. O/351/2005, claimed that each of the 48 lock-up shops was sold for N3million, amounting to total sum of N131.5million, and that the money was paid through the company's lawyer, Chief A. N. Anyamene (SAN). The suit was filed by their lawyer, Mr. G.N. Ezeuko (Jnr).
The suit was filed on behalf of all the plaintiffs by Chiefs S.N. Onyekwelu, Emmanuel Eziokwu, John Chinwuko, Odilichukwu Okafor, A.C. Asor, Innocent Izundu and Mr. Emeka Nnabuko.
Anyamene on his own part has warned his client (Premier Breweries PLC) against breaching the contract entered into with the traders. He has also assured the traders that their 'money is not, and cannot be lost".
The Board had at its meeting of 14/2/2002, in a majority decision, agreed to out rightly sell the 48 shops to raise money, contending that the ' amount realized from the sales would go a long way in settling accumulated staff salaries of both serving and retired staff. The balance would be applied to settle other confirmed creditors".
On account of a protest from the traders, Anyamene had written to the Chairman of Premier Breweries Board of directors, recalling to him the decision of the Board at its meeting of February 14, 2002, held in Enugu , to sell the shops outright against giving them out on annual rent. He warned that it would amount to a breach of contract for the company to change its earlier decision.
'There is therefore no doubt that the company has never wavered in its resolve to sell the shops to solve its financial problem, and indeed the sale enabled the company to rescue itself from the claws of the receiver. It will amount to receiving money under false pretences for the company now that it has collected and utilized the consideration paid by the purchasers to save its neck, to turn round and offer them subleases with annual rents. Honour dictates that the company does not adopt that course of action.," Anyemene said.