We’re not Father Christmas, Wema Bank tells litigating obligor

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Wema Bank Plc on Wednesday replied former Suprintendent of Police and member of American Academy of Forensic Science, Mr. Raphael Onwuziligbo who in evidence in chief testified that the bank forged Deeds of Legal Mortgage which it used to corner and sell the property situated at No. 3, now(5) Ijaiye Street, Mafolokwu, Oshodi belonging to late Olatunji Sobola.

Wema Bank Plc replied the former police officer who has retired into private practice in a testimony by Babajide Jabita, Recovery Officer for Wema Bank Plc.

The witness who was being cross-examined by Olufemi Falana, counsel for the first defendant, Wema Bank Plc told the court that the bank is not Father Christmas and that it did not forge Deeds of Legal Mortgage as alleged.

He also told the court that the property in question was sold to one Babajide Lafa during an auction and that documents to the property where handed over to him after which he took possession of the property. He said Wema Bank advertised house no. 5, formerly house no.3 Ijaiye Street, Mafolokwu, Oshodi in the newspapers before it was sold.

Falana: Confirm if the claimant’s father deposited documents with the bank?

Witness: Late Olatunji Sobola who happened to be the MD of Pace Maritime Agencies Limited deposited the documents with which we entered into the tripatite legal mortgage.

Falana: The claimant has alleged that the Father’s signature was forged, can you confirm?

Witness: That is not true, the signature was not forged. When we want to give loan to any customer there must be a collataral in case of default, so that all means will be used to recover the money because the bank is not a Father Christmas. Before the loan was offered, the MD entered and signed the tripatited mortgate which the bank obtained and the loan was granted.

Falana . Do you known One Obilade and did you confirm that they are workers of Wema Bank?

Witness: Yes, by the records, they represent the interest of Wema Bank Plc.

Falana: The claimant’s father died in 2005, the matter commenced 2001. Did the late father complain about forging documents before he died?

Witness: He never complained that his signature was forged.

Falana: How did you sell the property and was there any notice in respect of the sale?

Witness: We served the obligor demand notice. We served serveral demands notice to the obligor and when the final notice was served and it was clearly stated that failure to pay outstanding indebtedness will force Wema Bank to use all legal means, one is by taking recourse to the security documents pledged to the bank. Before the sale there was advert in the daily newspapers by auctioner that the propery is about to be sold.

Justice Candide Johnson has adjourned the matter to 13 and 14 February 2020 for further trial.