Ayo Animashaun, founder of Smooth Promotions, operators of HipTV has dragged Heritage bank to court for defrauding him. According to court papers, Her
Ayo Animashaun, founder of Smooth Promotions, operators of HipTV has dragged Heritage bank to court for defrauding him. According to court papers, Heritage bank, is being sued by Smooth Promotions for almost a billion Naira.
The case which has been filed by Kemi Pinheiro LP (SAN) at a Lagos federal high court, alleges that Heritage Bank fraudulently deducted insurance premiums from Smooth Promotions account without remitting the money to the insurance company; charged interests that were not agreed; and a forensic audit found that almost N200m worth of charges were not correct.
In 2014, Ayo Animashaun through Smooth Promotions had applied for a loan from the bank to purchase an OB Van. The company says Heritage bank never fully disbursed the funds to them, and as such had to borrow money abroad to avoid losing the OB Van.
Ayo Animashaun himself took to his social media to confirm the legal case saying, “So I wanted you to hear it directly from me: I have just instructed my lawyers Kemi Pinheiro LP, to file a suit at the federal high court in Lagos, against Heritage Bank. I have spent over two years doing all I can to resolve this as quietly as possible, but I am now left with no choice but to use every available legal means to protect my reputation, secure my business, and get the redress and compensation I deserve.
“Heritage bank has consistently lied to us, defrauded us, and they’re now attempting to twist the facts to make us look like the bad guys. I have spent the past 25 years of my life building a name and business; and we have been nothing but responsible corporate citizens. I know many entrepreneurs complain about Nigerian banks and how they do nothing but try to kill us. But this particular bank picked the wrong candidate. I will not rest until I get justice and I just want to thank everyone who’s called me; and plead that you please understand that I may not be able to comment about the matter after this post, as the matter will now be in court. I will provide further update as soon as I am allowed to.”
In the past one year, Heritage bank has been in the news for the wrong reasons, including having its managing director, Ifiesimama Sikibo arraigned for fraud in March 2018. EFCC investigated the bank and its MD for a N13bn fraud over funds belonging to the Oyo State government.
