Donald Duke begs AMCON for out of court settlement over seized properties

A former governor of Cross River State , Mr. Donald Duke , says he is exploring out – of -court settlement with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria in respect of an alleged debt of N 537, 334 ,360 .77 .
Counsel for the former governor , Edoigiawerie Omoruyi, told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday that his client had already approached AMCON .
Omoruyi prayed Justice Nicholas Oweibo to give the parties the opportunity to talk .
AMCON ’ s lawyer , Austin Erhabor , confirmed the position , saying , “ In the spirit of trust and fairness , we will concede to an adjournment to enable us to finalise possible settlement. ”
Consequently , Justice Oweibo adjourned till September 11 , 2019 for report of settlement.
AMCON and the United Bank for Africa had , on August 8 , 2019 , obtained a court order to take over Duke ’s house in Ikoyi over the alleged debt .
The takeover order was made by Justice Chuka Obiozor , following an ex parte application marked FHC / L /CS / 1373 / 2019 .
Listed as respondents on the application were Stonehedge Investment Limited, Mr. Donald Duke and Mrs . Owanari Bob -Manuel Duke .
The applicants had prayed the court for “ an order of interim attachment, possession and custody of the property being No . 3 , Temple Road , Ikoyi , Lagos .”
They told the court that the property was mortgaged by Duke “ as collateral in securing the 1 st respondent’s indebtedness to the applicants . ”
They urged the court to grant them possession of the property “ pending the institution and disposal of proceedings for recovery of debt against the respondent, pursuant to Section 49 of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act 2010 ( as amended ) . ”
They also prayed the court for an interim Mareva injunction to take possession of funds in the accounts of Duke and others in any bank “ pending the institutional and disposal of proceedings for the recovery of a debt of N 537 , 334 ,360 .77 made up of the principal debt and interest against the respondents pursuant to Section 50 of AMCON Act , 2010 . ”
The judge granted the prayers , in addition to an order restraining the respondents from “ transacting , transferring , changing or howsoever dealing in any manner or interfering with the applicants ’ possession” of the Ikoyi property .