Battle of the billionaires: Arthur Eze, Ngozi Olejeme in tussle over $2.8m, N240m

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* Oil magnate claims ex-governorship aspirant fails to repay
after botched governorship aspiration

A staggering loan of N1.2billion allegedly borrowed by a Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Dr. Ngozi Olejeme to enable her
prosecute her aspiration of contesting the 2015 governorship
election in Delta State has now landed her in court.

The lender and Olojeme’s long standing associate, Prince Arthur
Eze is frustrated that repayment of the alleged loan is not
forthcoming, and prays an Abuja High Court to compel her to
pay.

The loan, according to the suit filed by Eze, is in two
parts:$2.8million and N240 million.

He said the agreed repayment dates for the funds have long
expired without any attempt by the defendant to settle the
debt.

Attached to the suit are 39 pages of Eze’s Oranto Petroleum
Limited’s domiciliary and Naira-denominated bank statements
detailing dates and amounts transferred into Olejeme’s
accounts.

Eze, in an affidavit in support of his claims, said that even
though the interest -free loans which he began to disburse after
discussions with Dr. Olejeme on April 2, 2014 were meant to be
refunded before the end of 2016, the only response he received
after issuing a demand letter was that he may have to wait
indefinitely till she is through with her challenges from the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC is currently investigating an alleged N69bn fraud in
the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during Olojeme’s
tenure as chairman.

She was appointed to the position by former President Goodluck
Jonathan.

Eze, in the affidavit added: “Unless ordered by this court,
defendant will continue to remain indifferent to the demand to
repay the loan.

“Between April 2, 2014 and March 25, 2015, Plaintiff (Eze)
availed the Defendant (Olejeme) the total sums of two million,
eight hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$ 2, 800, 000) and
two hundred and forty, million naira (N240 , 000, 000) through her
domiciliary account and current account respectively with Fidelity
Bank Plc , Abuja.

“A breakdown of the dollar denominated loans shows that the
Defendant received the said sums in five instalments, namely:
US$1,000,000; US $700,000; US $1,000,000; US $50,000 and US $50,000
on 2/4/2014, 31/10/2014, 5/2/2015, 16/2/2015 and 25/3/2015
respectively; the bank statements evidencing the payments is herein
attached and marked exhibit ‘B”. For ease of identification and
reference, the entries against the Defendant are encircled and
ticked.

“That also a breakdown of the Naira-denominated loans shows that
the Defendant received the said sums in six instalments namely
N10,000,000; N40,000,000; N50 ,000,000; N50,000,000, N50,000, 000
and N40,000, 000 on 25/7/2014, 14/8/2014, 27/8/2014, 21/10/2014,
27/10/2014 and 6/11/2014 respectively ; the bank statement
evidencing the payments is herein attached and marked exhibit
C.

“That the date line agreed upon by the parties has long effluxed
without the Defendant coming to terms with her indebtedness
prompting the Plaintiff to instruct her solicitor, Chief G.Tagbo to
cause a demand letter to be written to the Defendant dated
29/1/2018 wherein a fourteen days ultimatum was given to the
Defendant to make good her indebtedness to no avail.

“Plaintiff’s solicitor letter of demand was dispatched to the
Defendant through Red Star Courier Service; Copies of the said
demand letter and courier consignment note are herein attached and
marked exhibits ‘D & E” respectively.

“The Defendant, upon the receipt of the said letter, merely
deployed her personal aides to plead to me for time as she was
having corruption issues with Economic & Financial Crimes
Commission.”

Efforts to seek clarifications from Dr. Olejeme yielded no
fruits as she declined to respond to calls and text message sent on
Friday evening.