The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has fixed October 20, 2023 for hearing on the fundamental rights suit, Mrs Maimuna Chionuma, a legal practitioner brought against the principal officers of Union Homes - Risi Ladi Ahmed, Richard Femi Bello and Femi Adewoye.
SaharaReporters had reported that Chionuma, the immediate past Company Secretary of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, sued the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 7, and the principal officers of Union Homes - Risi Ladi Ahmed, Richard Femi Bello and Femi Adewoye for allegedly violating her rights.
In the Suit No: FHC/C/CS/748/2023 filed in May at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, commenced under the Matter of Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and the African Charter on Human and People's Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The suit filed by her lawyer, Igbinigle Orukpe Esq, which is brought Pursuant to Order II Rule 3 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, sought among others, an order the Court stopping the defendants from further harassing, stalking, inviting, intimidating, arresting and or detaining her in respect of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, arguing that matter is a civil rights issues.
In an affidavit in support of the reliefs, she told the court that under Section 34(1) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), she (the Applicant) is entitled to her fundamental right to dignity of her person and not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.
She also contended that the Respondents acts of threatening and intimidating her (Applicant) with arrest and detention is unlawful and a breach of the Applicant's fundamental rights.
SaharaReporters had reported on April 19, 2023 that Chionuma petitioned the police and the Central Bank where she revealed how Aso Savings and Loans PLC along with some officials allegedly diverted N2.5 billion judgement debt of the firm.
She had in the petitions, stated that N2.5 billion was judgement debt paid by the Lagos State Government as compensation to Union Homes Plc, Searaq Nigeria Ltd and the Abule Ado Plumbing Materials Association.
Speaking to SaharaReporters concerning the development, Chionuma, said she wrote the petitions following threats to her life for refusing to accede to the transaction.
It was gathered that Chionuma was relieved of her appointment with Union Homes and Loans because of her insistence that due process should be followed in order to save the firm and officials from being prosecuted for money laundering.
Following the revelation about the diversion of the fund, the officials of the Union Homes and their collaborators in Aso Savings and Loans started threatening to kill her. They allegedly employed the police in zone 7 to hound for Chionuma, a development that had forced her to abandon her house for safety.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, the presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Nicholas Oweibo fixed October 20 for definite hearing and ordered that hearing notices should be served on the Respondents and adjourned.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on the outcome of the court session on Friday, Chionuma accused the police of conspiring with the principal officers of the Union Homes to fabricate a petition and back dated which they filed in court to seemly justify their criminalities.
She said, "Sometimes in March 2022, Lanre Olaoluwa was appointed as a receiver manager by an exparte order and he took over Union Homes.
"When he was sure that the court was going to vacate the order he carted away all the banks' documents and we filed a petition with the police.
"We also sent a petition to Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee and the matter is before Justices Daniel Emeka Osiagor and Ambrose Ezeolisa Allagoa both of the Federal High Court, Lagos."
She said that to her chagrin, "they (principal officers of Union Homes) wrote to the police that I broke into the bank, stole money and took away all the documents to cover up my criminal acts. Honestly, this is laughable! A copy of their petition was received by the police on April 4, meanwhile, I was invited by the police on March 31. The petition against me was acknowledged on the 5th of April, 2023.
"However, Aso attached a copy of the petition they sent to the police. Honestly, I have never met a more shameless set of criminals like those people."
Meanwhile, Chionuma in an affidavit of non-multiplicity of action on the same subject matter, Chionuma, stated that "when I drew the 3rd Respondent's attention to the Consent Judgment signed by the parties detailing the Trust Account into which the compensation should be paid in, I was issued a query by the 3 and 5 Respondents.
"That thereafter, I was directed by the 3rd Respondent to write a letter notifying Searaq Nigeria Ltd about the payment of N2.5 billion by the Lagos State Government and to also state that 50% of the N2.5 billion which translates to N1.250 billion will be paid to "Unknown Political People" and that the sum of N75 million will be paid as fees to Consultant for sharing the money to the "Unknown Political People".
"That as Company Secretary of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, I was instructed to cover up the sums not received by Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc and to acknowledge receipt of the sum of N2.5 Billion Lagos State Compensation paid but not received by Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc. This directive I refused to carry out and I was threatened severally by the 3rd Respondent.
"The 5th Respondent subsequently acknowledged receipt of N2.5 Billion.
"That as a consequence of my refusal to aid and abet the diversion, conversion and money laundering of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc' Lagos State Compensation by the acknowledgement suffered continuous harassment, intimidation, threats to my life and the unlawful and malicious termination of my employment.
"That the harassment and intimidation includes threatening telephone calls and text messages at night to me by the 3rd Respondent, the directing mind behind the diversion.
"That the harassment, intimidation, threat to my career and well-being on account of my refusal to be a party to fraud transcended beyond the illegal/wrongful termination of my appointment on 20 March 2023 as I received a registered letter delivered at my residence dated 28 March 2023 with strong emphasis on the condition that I must remain silent on all matters involving the diversion, conversion and money laundering.
"That I was invited by the Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja and I honoured the invitation by filing a Cross- Petition. Now shown to me and marked Exhibit F is a copy of the invitation letter dated 31/3/2023.
"That notwithstanding the 1" and 2 Respondents' receipt of my cross-petition, the 3", 4 and 5 Respondents, in furtherance of their determination to use their connection and contacts with and involve the 2 Respondent in this case, commissioned the 2nd" to continue the threats and intimidation, harassment among others."