Big Brother Naija sponsors ask court to dismiss winding up suit

Sponsors of the 2018 Big Brother Naija Show, Payporte Global System Ltd., has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit seeking its winding up.

The suit was filed by Vacant Boards Ltd.

In a notice of preliminary objection, Payporte contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

It described the suit as defective, null, void and an abuse of court process.

Payporte prayed the court to dismiss the winding up suit with a substantial cost against the petitioner.

Our correspondent reports that the petitioner had in 2015 filed a debt recovery suit against Payporte before the court.

In a judgment delivered on May 27, 2016, the court awarded the sum of N23.1 million against Payporte in favour of Vacant Boards.

The petitioner, however, submitted that on Feb. 27, 2017, Payporte made a part payment of N5 million, leaving a balance of N17.1 million which it had yet to liquidate in spite of demand letters.

It consequently filed a suit on Dec. 29, 2017, asking the court to order winding up of Payporte.

However, in the notice of preliminary objection on Wednesday, Payporte argued that the petition for winding up did not comply with the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 of the Companies Winding-Up Rules, 2001.

Payporte’s lead counsel, Mr Ogedi Ogu, informed the court of the notice of preliminary objection.

He also said that he had been served with a counter-affidavit by the petitioner, and would need time to respond to it.

Justice Ayokunle Faji adjourned the case until June 12 for hearing.