A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sent the Group Managing Director of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, to prison for disobeying a valid court order.
In his verdict over the alleged contemptuous act of the GMD, Justice Charles Archibong, directed that Durosinmi- Etti should be kept in prison till he purged himself of contempt.
He further directed that the Skye Bank boss should pay N5 million as costs.
The court added that if Durosinmi-Etti was not at the bank’s head office, the next ranking executive director to him should also be committed to prison.
Justice Archibong had gave the order after entertaining arguments from the lawyer to the judgment creditor, Desange Nigeria Limited, Mr. Malachi Okafor.
Desange was said to have secured a judgment against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), sometime last year, but the NCS was said to have refused to pay the judgment sum.
Desange later filed a motion to garnishee the accounts of Customs in five banks.
The banks included Zenith, Sterling, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Skye Bank. But all the banks were said to have complied with the court order by filling affidavit to show cause except Skye Bank
The five banks were further said to have complied fully by paying the judgment sum.
But Skye Bank was said to have instead filed an objection to the garnishee proceedings while objection was dismissed by the court on the grounds that it lacked merit.
Skye Bank later issued a cheque in the sum of N10.8 million as payment for the judgment sum, but the cheque was dishonored when it was presented for payment, an indication that the bank issued a dud cheque.
Desange later filed forms 48 and 49 to commit Durosinmi-Etti to prison for disobeying a valid court order.
Others listed as contemnors in the contempt proceedings included Skye Bank Chairman, Morenikeji Onasanya; the company secretary of the bank, Abimbola Izu and five executive directors of the bank – Gbenga Ademulegan, Dotun Adeniyi, Amaka Onwugbalu, Timothy Oguntayo and Mrs. Ibiye.
After listening to the ex-parte motion moved by Okafor, Justice Archibong said: “The discharge (dud cheque) which was based on a deception of the court is hereby revoked and the bank (Skye Bank) will pay in the account of the judgment debtor the value of the draft they presented in court on the last adjourned date.”
The case has been adjourned till July 11 for report of compliance with the court order.