Court removes PND placed on Lagos businessman, Lukman Adewale Bello’s accounts

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the removal of post no debt, PND, placed on the accounts of a Lagos businessman, Lukman Adebowale Bello, and his company, Adebel Hotels Suites.

The order of the court was as a result of an application accompanied by affidavit sworn to by the businessman, filed and argued before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Adebayo Onifade.

The deponent avers thus:

I, LUKMAN ADEBOWALE BELLO, Male, Christian, Businessman, Hotelier Property Developer and Nigerian Citizen of Block 36, Flat 2, Phase 2, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, Lagos State, do hereby make Oath and state as follows: 

• That he is the Chief Executive officer of ADEBEL HOTELS SUITES LIMITED.
• He operates and maintains a Savings Account No:0131535340 with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and also operate and maintain an account with Palmpay Limited with account No:9064526754.
• He further operates and maintains account in the name of Adebel Hotels & Suites Limited with Wema Bank Plc with Account No: 0123926294.
• Sometimes on 3rd of March, 2023, Officers of NDLEA the Lagos State Command raided Adebel Hotel and Suites Limited in search of one Obinna who reportedly lodged at the Hotel premises.
• The said officers in the course of their search allegedly found 1.5 grams of substances suspected to be illicit drugs in a room reserved as lounge for the staff which is known as Canada, however the said Obinna could not be found.
• The lounge was let out to Obinna by the hotel manager, however he has jumped bail and cannot be found following his release on bail by NDLEA officers.
• Sometimes on the 24 May 2023 vide a Charge dated and filed the same day he was charged before the Honourable Court, and upon his release on bail sometimes on the 19 May, 2023 whilst attempting to make withdrawals for payment to some of the hotel staffs. he was informed that the account as well as his other accounts had been placed on Post No Debit (PND) by officers of the NDLEA. He called his Counsel Mr. Adebayo Onifade to write a letter to NDLEA to remove the Post No Debit. The Respondent did not write any response to the letter till date.
• He caused his Counsel to file an application for the Enforcement of his Fundamental Human Rights in Suit No: FHC /L/CS/635/2023 before this Court.
• Consequent upon the proposed withdrawal of the Charge against him and his agreement to discontinue the Suits he filed, there is need for the Honourable Court to Order the immediate removal of the Post No Debit (PND) Order Placed on his account and his Company, Adebel Hotels & Suits Limited.
• That the interest of justice would be best served if this application is granted and the Respondents would not be prejudiced by the grant of the application.

The presiding Judge Lewis Allagoa after reading the Affidavit In Support of the Motion sworn to by Lukman Adebowale Bello, Male, Christian, Businessman Hotelier Property Development and Nigerian Citizen, of Block 36 Flat 2, Phase 2, Adeniji Adele Lagos Island, Lagos State, filed in Court Registry, Ikoyi, Lagos; after hearing the submission of A.B. Onifade Esq. counsel for the Defendant moved in terms of the Motion paper and Paul Awogbuyi Esq. counsel for  the prosecution not opposing. The court after careful consideration of the application and submission of counsel, it is ordered as follows:

• That an Order of this Honourable Court is granted removing the Post No Debit (PND) Order placed by the Respondent on the Bank Account of the Applicant to wit: Savings Account No: 013165340 with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in the name of LUKMAN ADEBOWALE BELLO.
• That an Order of this Honourable Court is granted removing the Post No Debit (PND) Order placed by the Respondent on the Bank Account of the Applicant to wit: Palmpay account No 98064826784 in the name of LUKMAN ADEBOWALE BELLO.
• That an Order of this Honourable Court is ” granted removing the Post No Debit (PND) Order placed by the Respondent on the Bank Account of the Applicant Company to wit Wema Bank Plc Account No: 0123826294 with Wema Bank Plc in the name of ADEBEL. HOTEL & SUITES.
• That the Defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted.

However, Guaranty Trust Bank has filed an application before the court urging the court,  to set aside the order of the court based on the discrepancies in the account number of the business man.

In a sworn affidavit filed before the court, the bank averred that:

• On the 26th of June 2025, the Applicant (Guaranty Trust Bank) received a letter dated 25th of June 2025 (with enrolment of order from the Applicant/Respondent’s Solicitors wherein the Solicitors demanded compliance with an order of the Honourable Court granted on the 18th of June 2025 removing an order of POST NO DEBIT (PND) placed on Applicant/Respondent’s (LUKMAN ADEBOWALE BELLO) Guaranty Trust Bank Account.
• Upon the perusal of the Solicitor’s letter and the Court order, Guaranty Trust Bank (the Applicant) realised that the Account number stated in the enrolment of order is incorrect.
• The Account number has nine digits instead of 10 digits.
• Due to the error in the account number, the bank was unable to conduct search on its data base in order to verify the status of LUKMAN ADEBOWALE BELLO’s account so as to be able to comply with the Court order.
• It is impossible for the bank to comply with the order unless it receives an order of this Honourable Court with the complete and correct account number.
• The bank is the custodian of the Account in question and as such, it is directly affected by the order granted by this Honourable Court on the 18 of June 2025.