Fidelity Bank Plc has been ordered to pay a total sum of N337, 905,965 to one of its customers, Ifeco Communications Limited, being part of an excess amount allegedly deducted by the bank from the account of the company domiciled in the bank.
An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, presided over by Justice J. M. Njaka issued the order.
Out of this amount, N327,905,965 represented excess charges, including excess COT, legal fees and management fees wrongly charged on account number 4010471004 belonging to the company, while N10,000,000 is for damages.
In the suit number HOW/260/2016, Ifeco Communications Limited , 1st plaintiff and Pretoria City Hotel and Resort Limited, 2nd plaintiff, had sued the defendant, Fidelity Bank Plc, seeking a declaration of the court that the 2nd plaintiff, Pretoria City Hotel and Resort Limited, by the audit report of Ambrose Ekoh and Co., is only indebted to the defendant the sum of N101,732,109.46 being owed by the 2nd plaintiff from the sum of N429,638,075 owed to it by the defendant which will reduce the excess charges owed by the defendant to the 1st plaintiff to N327,905,965.
The plaintiffs, through their legal counsel, Ben Osaka, SAN, with Charles Agusiobo Esq, also sought a declaration of the court that by the audit report, the 1st plaintiff is not indebted to the refund of the sum of N428, 638,075 being the excess amount charged, adding that it is wrong, a breach of trust and confidentiality for the defendant to withdraw or deduct money from the account of 1st plaintiff which is domiciled with it without its consent for the payment of any interest on loan or whatsoever she claims the 2nd defendant owes.
Counsel for the defendant, Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, with Chimeremeze Nwokoma Esq., had in the final address, argued that the plaintiffs’ claims as outlined in paragraphs 37 to 51 of their amended statement of claim hinge on Audit Reports (Exhibits A – C) prepared unilaterally during the pendency of the suit, rendering them inadmissible and lacking probative value due to the absence of the defendant’s involvement.
Defence counsel emphasised that the plaintiffs initially admitted indebtedness to the defendant but altered their case upon changing counsel.
But in his judgement, a certified true copy, CTC, of which was obtained by our correspondent, Justice Njaka declared, “I find that the Ambrose Ekoh audit reports are reliable, credible and consistent with the documentary and oral evidence before the court.
The court noted that since the 2nd plaintiff is only indebted to the defendant to the tune of N101,732,109.46, which has reduced the excess charges against the 1st plaintiff to N327,905,965, the “defendant is hereby therefore ordered to pay the 1st plaintiff the sum of N327,905,965 for excess charges, including excess COT, legal fees and management fees wrongly charged” on account No. 4010471004.
The judge added, “The defendant has failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to prove the sum claimed, as required by law.
“Its reliance on unexplained statements of account and disputed entries, without adequate oral evidence, is fatal. Accordingly, the counter –claim is hereby found to be unproven and is hereby dismissed. I so hold”.
