O & O Networks Limited has refuted reports claiming that the Federal High Court made a forfeiture order against Ecobank Nigeria Limited and ETI.
In a statement on Sunday, O & O Networks Limited said since the lawsuit referred to in the reports was filed in 2006, it had not proceeded to trial, while the court only recently fixed May 28, 2019, for hearing.
It said, “Contrary to certain press reports, there is no forfeiture order of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in these proceedings that is directed against ETI or Ecobank Nigeria Limited, and neither ETI nor Ecobank Nigeria Limited has made or is required by law to make any payment to the Federal High Court of Nigeria in relation to this long-standing litigation.
“There have been no material legal developments in the plaintiff’s substantive claim for monetary compensation since 2017.”
The firm explained that it had since 2016 been defending a lawsuit filed against it by Broad Communications Ltd before the Federal High Court.
It said, “In 2006, the plaintiff’s claim was grounded on an alleged right of first refusal over shares in Airtel Networks Limited that O&O Networks owned.
“The plaintiff claimed ownership of the Airtel shares based on its right of first refusal. In 2017, the plaintiff amended its claim to seek monetary compensation of USD equivalent of N10bn (approximately US$28m) in place of its claim of ownership of the Airtel shares.
“Since the matter was filed in 2006, it has not proceeded to trial on the substantive merits of the claim to date, though a trial date on the substantive merits was recently fixed for May 28, 2019.
“In August 2018, O & O Networks sold its shares in Airtel Networks Limited for Naira 22.5bn (approximately US$62.5m) with the permission of the Federal High Court on 7 June 2018 and subsequently in September 2018, the plaintiff filed an interlocutory application requesting the Federal High Court of Nigeria to grant an order directing O&O Networks to place Naira 22.5bn (approximately US$62m) – the entire proceeds of the sale of the Airtel shares and an amount which is significantly in excess of the plaintiff’s total monetary claim – into an escrow account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the court, pending the final determination of the substantive claim. The Federal High Court of Nigeria granted the plaintiff’s interlocutory application on 7 March 2019.
“O&O Networks has filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution to this ruling. O&O Network’s appeal to the interlocutory order is currently pending, and it intends to prosecute the appeal vigorously.
“O & O Networks Limited believes the substantive claim of the plaintiff is without merit and will continue to vigorously defend all proceedings – interlocutory and substantive – in relation to the plaintiff’s long-standing claim
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