Court Grants GTB Permission to Takeover Funds, Assets of Afex Over N17.8bn Anchor Borrowers’ Loan
A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) permission to temporarily take control of the funds and assets of Afex Commodities Exchange due to an outstanding debt of N17.808 billion under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Loan program.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted GTBank an interim Global Standing Instruction (GSI) injunctive relief following an ex-parte motion filed by the bank’s counsel, Chief A. Aribisala, SAN, and Ade Adedeji, SAN.
The debt comprises N15.766 billion in unpaid loan facilities, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, and cost of recovery and incidental expenses.
GTBank alleged that Afex Commodities Exchange failed to fulfill its repayment obligations despite the loan’s maturity date in April 2021.
The court then ordered a “Place a No Debit” on all monies standing to the credit of Afex Commodities Exchange and directed all banks in Nigeria to transfer the debtor’s funds into GTBank’s account until the debt is fully liquidated.
The court also ordered Afex Commodities Exchange to provide its current statement of account within seven days.
The case has been adjourned until June 10, 2024, for further hearing.
