High Court of Zamfara State sitting in Gusau has ordered the freezing of N1,450,287,277.96 allegedly held in an account belonging to Ronchess Group Plc with Zenith Bank Plc, pending the determination of a substantive suit over contested consultancy fees tied to multi-billion naira road contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government.
Justice Mukhtar Yushau granted the interlocutory injunction in the suit marked ZMS/GS/3/2025, following a motion filed by Samson Davies and Signature Group Limited against Jackson Ukuevo, Ronchess Group Plc., and Zenith Bank Plc.
The decision followed the consideration of affidavits and counter-affidavits filed by the parties disputing ownership and entitlement to the funds.
In his ruling, Justice Yushau restrained Zenith Bank, including its officers, agents and representatives from releasing, transferring, or otherwise dealing with the disputed sum until the case is fully heard and decided.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby issued restraining the 3rd respondent, its agents, servants, officers, privies or assigns from releasing, transferring or otherwise dealing with the sum of N1,450,287,277.96 or any part thereof standing to the credit of the 1st and 2nd defendants pending the hearing and final determination of the suit,” the court held.
The court further extended the restraining order to Jackson Ukuevo and Ronchess Group, barring them and their directors, affiliates, and agents from accessing or dissipating the funds in question.
“The 1st and 2nd respondents are hereby restrained, whether by themselves or by their directors, shareholders, officers, affiliates, servants, agents, privies or assignees, from tampering, transferring, drawing, debiting, dissipating or otherwise dealing with the funds,” the court held.
However, the judge clarified that the order applies strictly to the disputed amount and does not affect other funds outside the subject of litigation.
“Any monies beyond the sum stated, which serves as the res in suit ZMS/GS/3/2025, may lawfully be utilised by the 1st and 2nd defendants as they deem fit. Such a sum is not affected by the order of this court,” Justice Yushau said, directing the defendants to refund any portion of the disputed funds allegedly moved during the pendency of the suit.
The applicants had approached the court claiming entitlement to 20 per cent consultancy fees for contracts they allegedly facilitated for Ronchess Group with the Zamfara State Government.
In a supporting affidavit, Samson Davies, who identified himself as the majority shareholder and Managing Director of Signature Group Limited, stated that his firm agreed with the defendants in 2023 to secure road construction contracts in return for a 20 per cent commission on the total contract value.
He told the court that he facilitated introductions and meetings with Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and played a key role in securing the contracts.
According to him, the first phase of the project was awarded on July 26, 2023, at a value of N4,151,991,326.79, while the second phase followed on November 29, 2023, worth N13,938,776,168.31.
Davies further stated that he attended the contract-signing ceremony at the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Gusau, where he signed documentation on behalf of the defendants.
He alleged that although Ronchess initially paid N200 million and later N94,844,904.04 into Signature Group Limited’s account as part payment, no further payments were made despite additional funds received by the company.
The applicants claimed that Ronchess Group subsequently received a total of N7,251,436,389.81 in project-related payments, leaving an outstanding balance of N1,450,287,277.96 as unpaid consultancy fees.
The defendants, however, challenged the claims.
In a counter-affidavit sworn to by James Ibrahim Mamza, Contract Manager of Ronchess Group, the defendants described the applicants’ allegations as false and misleading.
Ronchess denied ever engaging Davies as a contract facilitator, asserting instead that he initially received financial assistance from Jackson Ukuevo before being informally retained as a management consultant.
The company stated that Davies was paid consultancy fees yearly and later placed on a monthly salary of N10 million in 2022.
According to the defendants, Davies merely acted on instructions and was occasionally nominated to represent Ukuevo when necessary.
“The first plaintiff was nominated to represent the first defendant whenever he was unavailable,” the affidavit noted.
They also rejected the existence of any agreement for a 20 per cent commission.
Ronchess further argued that payments made to Signature Group Limited were for foreign exchange transactions intended for the procurement of construction materials abroad, alleging that Davies failed to remit the full sums to suppliers.
The company disclosed that it had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct, which led to the arraignment of Samson Abayomi Davies and another in charge marked ID/2605162025, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Samson Abayomi Davies & Anor.
The defendants also alleged that following Davies’ disengagement on November 23, 2023, he continued to access confidential account information through a former Zenith Bank account officer.
They warned that granting the preservatory order could disrupt ongoing infrastructure projects in Zamfara State.
Despite the objections, the court granted the interlocutory injunction.
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