Nigeria Professional Football League side, Lobi Stars FC, have been dragged to court by a hotel manager at Dozat Jen Villa, Makurdi, Emmanuel Idoga, over an alleged debt.
The club’s management appeared before a Makurdi Upper Area Court on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Idoga, who was represented by his lawyer, Unongo Unongo, revealed that the club owed the hotel the sum of N516,000, adding that all efforts to recover the money failed.
Unongo averred that his client was the manager and operator of Dozat Jen Villa Makurdi a hotel outfit where the defendant lodged and refused to pay.
He said the players lodged in the hotel between March 16 and March 17, 2020.
The counsel further said that three players of the team also spent two months in the hotel without making any payment.
He further averred that he wrote a series of letters to the defendant.
”My client sent the first letter on June 29, 2021, but there was no response,” he said.
Unongo also said that during the hearing, he will rely on the letter dated June 29, 2021, which was served on the defendant.
He urged the court to order the defendant to pay the N516,000.
He also prayed for N1million as general damages, N50,000 as filing fee and any orders the court may deem fit.
The counsel alleged that the defendant was evading service and applied for substituted service on the defendant.
The Magistrate, Dooshima Ikpambese, in her ruling, ordered substituted service on the defendant.
“The records of the court reveal that attempts at personal service on the defendant on June 14 and June 15, failed.
”Consequently, an order of substituted service is hereby granted.
“The defendant shall be served by pasting the orders of the court, writ of summons, hearing notices, and all other subsequent processes of this court at the entrance of the McCarty Stadium Wadata, Makurdi and Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi and entrance door of Upper 2, Makurdi,” she held.
Ikpambese further adjourned the case until July 11 for further mention.
(NAN)
