Court summons Edo govt over unpaid N300m debt

A business organisation, A.I.C Limited, has summoned the Edo State governor and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice over an unpaid N300 million from the supply of materials for the Benin City Water Supply Project.


In a writ of summon issued at the High Court of Justice, Benin City, with suit number B/223/2013 and dated May 6,  solicitors to  the claimant, Ighodalo Imadegbelo and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, demanded that the defendants pay the N300 million owed A.I.C limited.
“You are hereby commanded that within 42 days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of A.I.C Limited  and take notice that in default of your so doing, the claimant may proceed therein and judgement may be given in your absence,” the writ stated. Imadegbelo argued that payment as demanded was debt owed to the claimant by the defendant for Benin City Water Supply Project covered by final invoice as at 31st day of September, 2012, in breach of clauses 4.6, 14.0 and 20.0 of the agreement dated June 7, 1991.
He, therefore, prayed the court that the claimant shall rely on the demand notice and final invoice attached as annexures 1 and 2 dated  January 10, covering general damages of N300 million and interest at the rate of 20 per cent per annum on reliefs until the judgement sum is paid.