Group Managing Director
NAHCoAviance Plc
Management of Nigerian Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has cautioned the former Managing Director of one its subsidiaries, NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ), Malam Baba Yusuf against acting subjudice as he engaged in campaing of calumny against its former employer when he has already filed a case before a court of competent jurisdiction; it also wonders why the National Assembly should have allowed itself to be dragged into acting contemptous of the judiciary.
The words of caution were offered over the weekend at a media conference where the management team of NAHCO led by its Group Managing Director (GMD), Mrs Tokunbo Fagbemi read out the position of the board and management of the ground handling company on the weighty allegations raised by one of its former employees against it.
Fagbemi said that the ground handling company decided to react to Yusuf’s allegations on the advice of its solitictors, within the scope permitted by the law on a matter before a competent court of law, so that it would not be seen as accepting guilt by keeping silent on the weighty allegations.
She also added that Yusuf has resorted to acts of blackmail, arm twisting, extortion by writing various petitions with baseless
allegations and threats from his solicitor to do a lot of damage to
the Corporate reputation of the company instead of pursuing his claims in court as he earlier stated in his letter to the NFZ
Fagbemi who said the company was not ready to join issues with Yusuf on his allegations but decided to make some clarification based on the advice of its solicitors said, “the silence was not an admission toguilt; rather that it is guided by our solicitors not to discuss the details of the matter but will provide context, evidence of what is permitted by law.”
On the allegations Yusuf leveled against the ground handlers, she said, “It is pertinent to note that at no time or in any handover note did Mr. Baba Yusuf raised any of these allegations as issues of
concern or requiring board or management attention.
“Upon his resignation, he granted an interview praising NFZ, NAHCO and the new boards of the organizations. Following this, he attempted and failed to force NFZ to pay him an undeserved severance package of N125,900,000 as his performance bonus for seven months of non-performance
as managing director of NFZ.
“He then through his lawyer, threatened reputational damage to NAHCO by petitioning different investigative bodies to review his tenure and file an action in court for recovery of his perceived claim, warning that his action would materially damage the corporate reputation and operation of the NFZ.
A copy of the letter written to the Board of Directors NFZ on June 13, 2019; by solicitors to Mr.Yusuf, Tony Odiadi and Co titled: Re: Mr. Baba Yusuf: Performance based Incentive Pay, obtained by
africanbusinesstravel.com.ng stated:
“Be informed therefore, that if after ten (10) days from the date of this letter, our client is not paid his entitlements as stated, we shall have no option left but to file necessary invitations to
relevant investigative agencies on the tenure of our client with the facts at our disposal and commence legal action for the recovery of the said entitlement at the appropriate court of law.
NAHCO however avertred that instead of pursuing his claims in court the former employee has resorted to go to the media to engage in a campaign to undermine the court.
NAHCO which insisted that Yusuf’s allegations are baseless and have material implications for national security, therefore said: “We state categorically that we have nothing to hide, but we are not in the habit of paying for work not done or value not-derived.”
It also claimed that Yusuf is using his various attacks on broadcast media, despite a subsisting court case, as part of a greater ploy to attempt a hostile takeover of the company by a faceless group.
“We also have it on good authority that the fulcrum of the attacks by Mr. Baba Yusuf are all tied to an attempt for a hostile takeover of
the operations of NAHCO and NFZ by a faceless group using him as its front. We state this categorically because these attempts are all at variance with the praise of the strength with which NAHCO is going to
greater heights.”
Fagbemi said that the ground handling company decided to react to Yusuf’s allegations on the advice of its solitictors, within the scope permitted by the law on a matter before a competent court of law, so that it would not be seen as accepting guilt by keeping silent on the weighty allegations.
She also added that Yusuf has resorted to acts of blackmail, arm twisting, extortion by writing various petitions with baseless
allegations and threats from his solicitor to do a lot of damage to
the Corporate reputation of the company instead of pursuing his claims in court as he earlier stated in his letter to the NFZ
Fagbemi who said the company was not ready to join issues with Yusuf on his allegations but decided to make some clarification based on the advice of its solicitors said, “the silence was not an admission toguilt; rather that it is guided by our solicitors not to discuss the details of the matter but will provide context, evidence of what is permitted by law.”
On the allegations Yusuf leveled against the ground handlers, she said, “It is pertinent to note that at no time or in any handover note did Mr. Baba Yusuf raised any of these allegations as issues of
concern or requiring board or management attention.
“Upon his resignation, he granted an interview praising NFZ, NAHCO and the new boards of the organizations. Following this, he attempted and failed to force NFZ to pay him an undeserved severance package of N125,900,000 as his performance bonus for seven months of non-performance
as managing director of NFZ.
“He then through his lawyer, threatened reputational damage to NAHCO by petitioning different investigative bodies to review his tenure and file an action in court for recovery of his perceived claim, warning that his action would materially damage the corporate reputation and operation of the NFZ.
A copy of the letter written to the Board of Directors NFZ on June 13, 2019; by solicitors to Mr.Yusuf, Tony Odiadi and Co titled: Re: Mr. Baba Yusuf: Performance based Incentive Pay, obtained by
africanbusinesstravel.com.ng stated:
“Be informed therefore, that if after ten (10) days from the date of this letter, our client is not paid his entitlements as stated, we shall have no option left but to file necessary invitations to
relevant investigative agencies on the tenure of our client with the facts at our disposal and commence legal action for the recovery of the said entitlement at the appropriate court of law.
NAHCO however avertred that instead of pursuing his claims in court the former employee has resorted to go to the media to engage in a campaign to undermine the court.
NAHCO which insisted that Yusuf’s allegations are baseless and have material implications for national security, therefore said: “We state categorically that we have nothing to hide, but we are not in the habit of paying for work not done or value not-derived.”
It also claimed that Yusuf is using his various attacks on broadcast media, despite a subsisting court case, as part of a greater ploy to attempt a hostile takeover of the company by a faceless group.
“We also have it on good authority that the fulcrum of the attacks by Mr. Baba Yusuf are all tied to an attempt for a hostile takeover of
the operations of NAHCO and NFZ by a faceless group using him as its front. We state this categorically because these attempts are all at variance with the praise of the strength with which NAHCO is going to
greater heights.”
