EditorBarrister Kukei Umoye, counsel to former Union Homes Company Secretary Mrs Mainuma Chionuma, has doubled down on the allegation that Aso Savings and Homes illegally diverted N2.5b Lagos State government compensation to Union Homes and the Abule Ado Building Materials merchants, saying that is the core issue.
Umoye responded to media reports where Aso Savings claimed the company secretary’s petition against them to financial sector regulators was “mere blackmail”.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe stated: “The question is, did Aso Savings divert the money? Yes. Is Aso a party in the matter before the court? No. Did they pay political people N1.25b? Yes?”
As the lead agency in an unfinished merger, principal officers of Aso Savings & Loans Ltd diverted N2.5b (Two billion five hundred million Naira) the Lagos State Government paid as judgement debt and compensation to Union Homes Plc, Searaq Nig. Ltd and the Abule Ado Plumbing Materials Association.
The allegation is a central thesis of the petition to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force and financial services industry regulators by the Company Secretary of Union Homes following threats to her life for refusal to accede to the transaction.
Mrs Maimuna Chionuma further alleged threat to her life by the officers responsible for the heist, namely Risi Ladi Ahmed (MD ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC), Richard Femi Bello also of Aso Savings and Femi Adewoye, Chief Operating Officer of Union Homes.
However, the Chief Operating Officer of Union Homes responded with the claim that their former Company Secretary’s allegation was blackmail and introduced her marital relationship as daughter-in-law to the retired former MD of the company. Adewoye and Aso Savings and Loans impugn the lawyer’s character that represented Union Homes and the other claimants alleging “friendship” with the Company Secretary.
Barrister Umoye countered, “The relationship between the former managing director and our client is not an issue, and every reasonable and supposedly responsible entity ought not to bring that into what is at play (criminality). The relationship between Aso Savings and Union Homes is inchoate, particularly in the cases that were in court (Lagos State High Court). Aso Savings was never a party in the suit and should explain how it received the compensation without the knowledge of the counsel in the suit.”
He added: “They should exhibit the account the money was paid into regarding Union Homes. The reference to the counsel as our client’s friend reflects the poor state of mind of a criminally inclined misbegotten brood of persons”.
Mrs Chionuma served at Union Homes for 25 years and rose to become the Company Secretary. In June 2020, Union Homes’ management sent her a letter of commendation for her “immense hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance in the discharge of your duties, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Management is pleased to note your contribution and urges you to keep it up and extend this zeal to the growth of the organisation”. Telufusi Fadekemi, Head, Human Resources and Admin, signed for the company and copied the Group Head, Corporate Services, Aso Plc.
The former Company Secretary said regarding the Union Homes solicitor who questioned the involvement of Aso Savings & Loans Plc. “The firm of solicitors was enlisted in 1999, and I was appointed Company Secretary in 2015. Consequently, I inherited the firm when I took over as Company Secretary.”
She decried the attempt to demean the issues because of her gender. “The solicitors worked on the recovery for ten years. He took Richard Bello and me to Alausa for meetings. He attended court for years. At what point did he become my friend?
“Meanwhile, the parties agreed upon the terms of the settlement under reference in 2015 together with the bank’s former solicitors Toyin Pinheiro SAN who withdrew from the matter before Kusamotu came on board and adopted the Terms of Settlement”.
Counsel Kukei Umoye added, “The fact is that monies were laundered, and they must be accountable for such brazen behaviour. Our client had a meritorious stewardship spanning 25 years or more without blemishes. If there were any infractions, the trio would have used that against her. We receive letters threatening her not to spill the acrimonious actions of stealing and money laundering committed by the trio. Lies have a life span, and this is one lie/crime that will not be allowed to be swept away by enemies of our great nation.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
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