Companies affected are Silverbird Galleria Limited, Silverbird Promotions Limited and Silverbird Showtime Limited.
AMCON
had, by notice of appointment dated April 18, 2016, appointed Dr.
Muiz Banire (SAN) receiver/manager over the assets of the three
companies located at 133, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos;
Plot No 1161 (Silverbird Galleria) Central Area Cadastral Zone AOO,
Abuja; and the magnificent structure located at Abonnema Wharf Road
and Abali Park in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The takeover was
sequel to the interim orders granted by Justice C. M. Olatoregun of
the Federal High Court, Lagos, on June 17 (Suit No.
FHC/L/CS/790/16 - Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria & 3
Ors. v. Ben Murray Bruce & 4 others), which allowed the
receiver/manager to take possession of the properties.
The
properties were seen being locked up by agents of the
receiver/manager in an exercise carried out under the full
supervision of policemen, as directed by the court order, a copy of
which was made available to SaharaReporters as early as 7:30 am.
According to the order, Murray-Bruce’s companies are owing AMCON
the sum of N11 billion, which the companies have defaulted in its
payment. Counsel to the receiver/manager, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, told
SaharaReporters that the exercise was conducted in accordance with
the law.
“The
exercise of this morning has all the paraphernalia of legality. Aside
from the fact that the receivership was done pursuant to deeds of
legal mortgages duly executed by the three companies and guaranteed
by Ben Murray-Bruce and four of his brothers, there is a court order
backing same up.
"It
must be borne in mind that innocent depositors’ money is what the
common sense propagator and his brothers have been living large and
feeding fat upon without recourse to the interest of the real
laborers who own the money,” Adegoke said.
Murray-Bruce,
using his companies in 2005 and 2007 respectively, borrowed various
sums of money from the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and has consistently
defaulted in his repayment obligations. “The said loan was
purchased by AMCON in 2011 after the capital base of Union Bank was
terribly shaky and the common sense senator has persistently failed
to pay the loans and yet has been pretending to be concerned with the
welfare of Nigerians whom he has been skinning alive in order to
remain relevant and live like a king,” Adegoke said with barely
disguised glee.
Realizing
that the Senator was not ready to pay back the money, AMCON appointed
a receiver/manager to recover the loan. While the agents of the
receiver, officials of AMCON and large contingents of armed police
officers were seen sealing up the premises of Silverbird Group of
Companies in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, the staff of the
companies were lamenting the failure of their principal to meet his
obligations. All efforts to reach the senator proved abortive,
as calls to his mobile phones were “being forwarded to another
number”.
A
younger brother of the Senator, Guy Murray Bruce came in while the
repossession was going on but drove out a few minutes later.
Silverbird employees and staff of other companies who use the
Galleria are outside, some waiting in the car park just opposite the
Galleria.
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