The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, has debunked claims that it illegally took over the property of former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo.
It described stories to that effect published by some news media as “inaccurate stories that are sponsored and published in the media meant to mislead the public and whip up sentiments for former Super Eagles player, Mr. Nwankwo Kanu.”
Recall that Nwankwo had on Tuesday alleged that AMCON had illegally taken over his Hardley Apartment, located in Victoria Island.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the corporation ‘trespassed’ against a court order.
However, AMCON in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Jude Nwauzor, noted that a 2015 court order by the Federal High Court, granted the Corporation possession of The Hardley Apartments located at No. 46 Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Off Elsie Femi – Pearse Crescent, Off Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island in Lagos State, being the asset pledged by Nwankwo as collateral for a loan.
It also clarified that the procedure (take over) was done with the Court bailiff and inventory of property was taken, insisting that it did not include any medals as claimed by the former Eagles Captain.
The full statement read:
The attention of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has been drawn to some inaccurate stories that are sponsored and published in the media meant to mislead the public and whip up sentiments for former Super Eagles player, Mr. Nwankwo Kanu.
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“AMCON is not in the habit of joining issues with obligors on the pages of the newspapers especially when the matter is in court as in this one. It is noteworthy that similar clarification was made by the Corporation in 2017, when the debtor claimed that AMCON had illegally taken over his hotel. However, as a law abiding recovery agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we are at all times guided by the law and would continue to act accordingly irrespective of obligor’s social, political or economic status. The public is hereby informed that these stories are meant to instigate sentiments of the media and the public on the true position of the indebtedness of The Hardley Apartments (promoted by Nwankwo Kanu) to the Corporation.
“We also want to put on record that having exhausted all avenues of peaceful resolution as a result of the huge debt; extended so many invitations for discussion, which were turned down, AMCON in 2015 obtained an order from the Federal High Court, which granted the Corporation possession of The Hardley Apartments located at No. 46 Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Off Elsie Femi – Pearse Crescent, Off Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island in Lagos State, being the asset pledged as collateral for the loan. The procedure was done with the Court bailiff and inventory of property was taken, which did not include any medals as claimed. This order still subsists, pending the determination of the substantive matter. The public should therefore please disregard these misrepresentations as we await the pronouncement of the court on the matter.”
