UBA Commences Contempt Proceedings Against WEMPCO Directors Over Alleged Disobedience of Court Order

<em>Mr. Lewis Tung and his brother Robert Tung</em>

The Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by Honourable Justice Akintayo Aluko, has granted an application by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc for substituted service of Form 49 on directors of WEMPCO named as alleged contemnors in the case of UBA v. WEMPCO.

The application forms part of proceedings seeking to determine whether the named individuals disobeyed an order of the court and whether they should be committed to prison for contempt.

The directors named as alleged contemnors are Lewis Shui Ngor Tung, Phillip Shui Chei Tung, M.A. Ola Yusuf, Tung Lawrence Blake, Aali Aare Hadji Tokunbo, Paul Shui Po Tung, Tung Robert, C.L. Ip and Taiwo Alli.

In advancing the application, counsel to UBA argued that service of Form 49 on the alleged contemnors was necessary to enable them to appear before the court and show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them.

He also argued that the Directors of WEMPCO and some members of staff took illegal steps in an attempt to disobey the Order of Court.

The Court’s decision to grant substituted service provides a procedural step towards bringing the notice to the attention of the individuals concerned in accordance with the court’s directions.

Form 49 is a notice requiring an alleged contemnor to show cause why an order of committal to prison should not be made against them for alleged disobedience of a court order.

The Federal High Court had earlier made an Order of Mareva Injunction and appointed a Receiver/Manager over some of the Assets of WEMPCO following the indebtedness of WEMPCO to UBA in the sum of N61,445,695,993.76 (Sixty One Billion Four Hundred and Forty-Five Million Six Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Seventy Six Kobo).