By Innocent Anaba

lagos—Ecobank Nigeria Limited has appealed a ruling by Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court in Lagos,  striking out its winding-up petition against Honeywell Group Limited and its sister company Anchorage Leisures Limited. Trial judge, Justice Dagat had in its ruling of Monday held that Ecobank’s suit was an abuse of court process. But, Ecobank, through its lawyer, Kunle Ogunba, SAN, has lodged two appeals at the Court of Appeal, Lagos, against the companies on seven grounds each.

The bank is praying the appellate court to set aside Justice Dagat’s consolidated ruling striking out the petition, as well as an order directing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to re-assign the petition to another judge for hearing. Ecobank is also praying the court to restrain Honeywell and Anchorage or their agents from taking advantage of Justice Dagat’s ruling as it relates to their funds in Nigerian banks pending the determination of the appeal.

The appellant is also urging the appellate court to “urgently assign a date for hearing of the duly filed motion for injunction in the interest of justice and in pursuance of the abiding tenet to always hold the scale of justice evenly and balanced between contending parties.” Ecobank filed the winding-up petition against Honeywell Group’s inability to pay an alleged debt to the tune of N5.5 billion, but same was struck out by the lower court for constituting an abuse of court process.