The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria on
Thursday morning sealed the Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt premises of
Silverbird Galleria belonging to Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.
The Abuja Galleria currently houses the Abuja
studio of the senator’s Rhythm FM radio station and Silverbird
Television station as well as his other business interests. The one in
Lagos hosts the Silverbird Cinema and outfits belonging to other people.
The buildings were sealed by AMCON through the
assistance of officers of the Nigerian Police Force at about 8am, following a
court order secured by the corporation.
The Federal High Court, Lagos Division, had on Friday, June 17, 2016, granted
an interim injunction against Silverbird Productions Limited, Silverbird
Showtime Limited, Silverbird Galleria Limited and Ben Murray-Bruce, Guy
Murray-Bruce, Roy Murray-Bruce and Jonathan Murray-Bruce on the application of
AMCON.
AMCON said in a statement that it had since
appointed M. A. Banire SAN as receiver to the companies.
It added that Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun, while
granting the order on the application of the counsel for AMCON, restrained Ben
Murray-Bruce and other obligors that owed AMCON over N10bn from challenging,
interfering with or obstructing or frustrating the receiver appointed by the
corporation over the fixed and floating assets of the listed companies.
AMCON added that the senator had been in
protracted negotiations with it over the indebtedness.
The corporation added, “Contrary to news making
the rounds since the takeover, AMCON did not shut down the concerned companies.
We appointed a receiver that took over the companies in the early hours of
Thursday, June 23, 2016 as ordered by the Federal High Court and the receiver
will be responsible for the companies on behalf of AMCON going forward.
“The court order affects the mortgaged asset
located at Central Area, Cadastral Zone, AOO Plot No. 1161, Abuja; the
mortgaged asset on Abonnema Wharf Road and Abali Park in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State; as well as the mortgaged asset at 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Lagos where the
Silverbird Galleria is located.
“The court also ordered the Inspector General of
Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police
in charge of Lagos State and all other police officers under them to assist M.
A. Banire SAN, the receiver; and the bailiffs of the Federal High Court in the
enforcement of the orders of the court.”
Conspicuously written on the fence of the
galleria in Abuja as well as other strategic locations was an enforcement
notice by AMCON, which read, “Possession taken by court order — 23/06/16.”
AMCON also pasted a copy of the court order that
gave it the right to seal the properties.
The court order, pasted on the walls of the
property, was signed by the Registrar, Federal High Court, Lagos, Mr. Rasaq
Sule.
The court order mentioned Ben Murray-Bruce, Guy
Murray-Bruce, Michael Murray-Bruce, Roy Murray-Bruce and Jonathan Murray-Bruce
as defendants in the suit.
It stated that AMCON had bought the indebtedness
as an eligible bank asset from Union Bank of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Ben Murray-Bruce, on his Twitter
handle, said that the situation was already being resolved.
He wrote, “I have been on an international flight
and have only just landed. The situation is being resolved and things will be
back to normal.
“In 36 years, Silverbird has grown and like
anybody, it will face challenges. Tough times don’t last, but we as tough
people outlast them.”
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