Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Chairman of Amakpe International Refineries, Chief Usua Henry Amanam, has filed a suit at the High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, denying a $1.46 million debt claim by Financial Bridge Inc., a financial consultancy firm.
He is also seeking N50 billion in damages and a N50 million legal cost.
In suit No: HU/213/2025, Chief Amanam told the court that Financial Bridge Inc. had already been fully paid for all professional services it rendered in relation to previous transactions.
The defendants listed in the suit include Financial Bridge Inc., Barr. Emmanuel Dibia, Abuja Property Shop Ltd, Mr. Goodluck C. Adekweh, and Santana Security Services Ltd.
He described the firm’s reported attempt to sue the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, on his behalf, without his knowledge or authorization, as fraudulent.
According to the 33-paragraph statement of claim, Chief Amanam said, “The defendants conspired to mislead the court and exclude my refinery’s assets from a judgment process, even though those assets were never part of any unpaid debt.”
He narrated that Amakpe International Refineries was financed through a loan obtained from the defunct NAL Merchant Bank PLC (later acquired by Sterling Bank), and secured by several properties across Nigeria.
He alleged that despite the refinery project sitting on over 34 hectares of land with uncompleted infrastructure valued at N5 billion, those assets were unlawfully omitted in a consent judgment between Financial Bridge Inc. and AMCON.
“AMCON had no legal right to negotiate or pay any alleged debt on our behalf. These dealings were done without my consent and were highly irregular,” he said.
Amanam blamed the refinery’s delay on what he termed “the politicization of Nigeria’s oil industry,” which he said impaired his ability to meet loan obligations.
He also recalled that Financial Bridge Inc. had earlier dragged AMCON before the Federal High Court (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1122/2024), which led to the appointment of Mr. Goodluck C. Adekweh, a representative of Abuja Property Shop Ltd, to sell some of his properties in a bid to recover the alleged debt.
In his fresh suit, Chief Amanam is praying the court to, “Restrain the defendants from evicting tenants from any of his properties.
“Grant a perpetual injunction against any sale or lease of his assets by the defendants or their agents.
“Stop Santana Security Services Ltd from deploying personnel to his properties.”
“The refinery never owed the alleged debt. The actions of these defendants are unjust and must be reversed,” he stated.
