A Lagos businessman, Babatunde Saka and his company, Ofly Global Resources Limited, has urged a Lagos high court to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate a staff of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), one Saheed Ayinla Ogundare, the CEO of Seadrof Hotels & Suites based in Idi Araba, Mushin, Lagos, for alleged diversion of funds of the hospital. Joined in the suit are LUTH, EFCC and a Lagos businessman, Kolawole Bankole, owner of De Nest Hotel and Prima Hotel and Resort Services Ltd.
According to Babatunde Saka’s statement filed on his behalf by his counsel, King Ola Wilson, on the 8th of August, 2016, Kolawole Bankole let his 15-bedroom hotel, De Nest, and that when he took over the hotel, the expenses he incurred aside the deposit he made was N3, 009,549:70. He added that on the 14th of July, 2017, he entered into another contract with Bankole in respect of a 35-bedroom Primal Hotel and Resort Services Limited. When he took over the second hotel, he claimed, the total expenses he incurred aside the deposit he made was N8, 811,931.00.
However, Saka averred that on two different dates, Bankole allegedly stormed Primal Hotel with thugs and forcefully took over the property, drove him (Saka) and his staff away from the property. The claimant said in a petition dated 24th October, 2019 and submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police at Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos, that, on the 6th of February, 2020, Bankole repeated the action by invading De Nest Hotel, taking away all items, including the generatoers, purchased by him (Saka) to enhance the value of the hotel.
He is claiming the sum of N21, 821,540:70 for the damages.
Saka averred further that Kolawole Bankole presented Saheed Ayinla Ogundare to him as a resource agent who was bringing the staff of LUTH and their guests for lodging at Prima Hotel and Resort which was being managed by him (Saka) with the hope that the lodgment money would be paid into his bank account and some paid to Saheed Ayinla Ogundare as his agency fees. Unknowingly to him, he said, Ogundare was a staff of LUTH. Also, Saka alleged in his statement, after he was forcefully evicted, Saheed Ayinla Ogundare took over the management of the two hotels and started to operate them under the name of Seadrof Hotels & Suites.
Saka alleged that, Ogundare paid a total sum of N3,851,170 into the account of his company, Ofly Global Resources Ltd, but was later remitted back to him. He added that what prompted his suspicion about the various monies paid into his company’s account was that Ogundare continued to pay money into Ofly account despite that the hotles have been taken away from him (Saka), fearing that by Ogundare’s sinister acts, his company, Ofly, could inadvertently be implicated on suspicion of a crime. Consequently, Saka’s claims against the defendants jointly and severally are as follows:
The sum of N15million as general damages and special damages; declaration that the forceful and wrongful taking over of the hotels and seizure of his items purchased to enhance the management of the two hotels by Kolawole Bankole without resorting to the provision of the contract, is unlawful and illegal. A declaration that Saheed Ayinla Ogundare as a public servant in the employment of LUTH to engage in a private business and managing hotel, is unlawful; an order directing EFCC to investigate the propriety of Saheed Ayinla Ogundare, a staff of LUTH operating a private business while still in the employ of LUTH; the circumstances and reasons for transferring of several monies into his company’s account and later collecting them when he had ceased to operate or manage the hotel, and the cost of this legal action and out of pocket expenses.
The presiding judge, Ganiyu Safari, has adjourned the case till 21st of December, 2020, awaiting report of service of the court processes.
-Oyin Princess