Why Seplat Petroleum Threatened to Drag Access Bank to Court

Why Seplat Petroleum Threatened to Drag Access Bank to Court

Seplat Petroleum Development Company SPDC Plc has threatened to take legal action against Access Bank over the sealing of its corporate headquarters in Lagos.

Access Bank had reportedly sealed off Seplat Petroleum SPDC’s corporate headquarters at 16A Temple Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, over the indebtedness of a third party.

However, the management of SPDC who frowned over the development, insisted it never made any commitment or guarantee in respect of the alleged debtor, Cardinal Drilling’s loan obligations to Access Bank.

In response to the action taken by Access Bank, the management of SPDC has stated that the court order lacked any merit or justification. SPDC also stated plans to take legal actions in order to counter the order.

A part of the press statement issued by SPDC, signed by its company’s Secretary and General Counsel, Mrs Edith Onwuchekwa reads thus:

“We understand that Cardinal Drilling has outstanding loan obligations to Access Bank. However, SEPLAT is neither a shareholder in Cardinal Drilling, nor has outstanding loan obligations or guarantees to Access Bank and did not at any time make any commitments or guarantees in respect of Cardinal Drilling’s loan obligations to Access Bank.

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SEPLAT strongly believes that there is no merit or justification for this action against it and has taken prompt legal action to vacate the court order pursuant to which the building was sealed.

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“This action was taken by Access Bank without any prior notice to SEPLAT, as required under Nigerian law. SEPLAT will vigorously defend against this improper action to the full extent of the law and will seek all appropriate legal remedies.”

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TheConscience gathered that the alleged debtor, Cardinal Drilling Service Limited, which provides drilling services to SPDC, has outstanding loan obligations to Access Bank, prompting the legal action.

Mr Abdul Imoyo of Access Bank is yet to respond to an enquiry over the matter.