Zenith Bank’s Management Team Pay A Visit To To Fayose

A management team from Zenith Bank Plc visited Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose ,the Eating Governor and Mr Stomach Instructure  , over the involvement of the bank in the funding of the June 21, 2014 governorship election of the governor. Their visit to the governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election. The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo. It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager. When accosted by newsmen, the Executive Director  said they only came to see the governor. Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words. He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything. While commenting on the development on the Dasuki gate money.

AMCON TAKES OVER BEN BRUCE'S SILVERBIRD GALLERIA, OTHER COMPANIES IN LAGOS, PORT HARCOURT AND ABUJA BECAUSE OF N11B DEBT

TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, SILVERBIRD’LL BE BACK – MURRAY-BRUCE

 

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on Thursday morning took over all the assets of several companies belonging to Senator Ben Murray- Bruce. The 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. 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, “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,” 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.

Benedict Murray-Bruce was born on February 18, 1956 in Lagos to an Ijaw parent Mullighan and Margaret Murray-Bruce from Akassa, Bayelsa State of Nigeria. He attended the famous Our Lady of Apostles, in Yaba, Lagos and St Gregory College in Obalende.  He studied Marketing and Business at the University of Southern Carolina.
 

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has said the situation, which led the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to take possession of Silverbird Galleria today, is being resolved.
AMCON took possession of the Silverbird Galleria in Abuja and Lagos, which houses the Senator’s companies on Thursday morning, denying workers entry into the premises.
The Senator, however, said that with over three decades of operation, Silverbird was bound to encounter challenges, but would overcome them.
“I have been on an international flight and have only just landed. The situation is being resolved and things will be back to normal,” he tweeted.
“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.”