Court halts Reps from harassing Sterling Bank 

A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim injunction restraining the House of Representatives and its committee chairman on public petitions, Hon. Mike Etaba, from further inviting and exploring Sterling Bank Limited, its parent company, and its executives.

The ruling, delivered in suit number FHC/L/CS/158/25, reinforces the constitutional principle of separation of powers, emphasised that the legislature lacks the authority to summon private individuals and corporate entities for matters already adjudicated by the judiciary. 

This followed a motion filed by Femi Falana (SAN), Funmi Falana (SAN), and Taiwo E. Olawanle of Falana & Falana Chambers.

Sterling Bank and its parent company initiated the legal action against the lower chamber,  Etaba, Dr. Innocent Brendan Usoro, Miden Systems Limited, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), citing undue interference in a concluded judicial matter.

The case originates from a long-standing financial dispute in which Miden Systems Ltd and Dr. Usoro allegedly defaulted on a multi-million dollar loan facility granted by Sterling.

Usoro and Miden Systems, according to available court documents, secured a vessel lease facility from the Bank in 2009, which was later restructured several times due to defaults by the debtor. 

In 2021, the Federal High Court issued Mareva injunctions against Dr. Usoro and Miden Systems after they failed to meet their loan obligations. The matter was resolved through a consent judgment, with the debtors admitting liability for debt owed to the Bank.

Notwithstanding the subsisting court judgment, the duo of Usoro and Miden Systems sought to overturn the ruling -a move dismissed by  the FHC  November 20, 2024, citing an abuse of process.

However, in an attempt to delay enforcement, the debtors escalated their claims to the committee, accusing the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and Shell Petroleum of financial mismanagement.

In January 2025, Sterling formally petitioned the IGP, raising concerns over the misuse of political connections to obstruct justice and intimidate bank executives. The Bank noted attempts by Usoro and his associates to leverage the National Assembly and law enforcement agencies to evade financial and legal accountability.

The latest ruling by the court effectively safeguards Sterling from further undue legislative probes and harassment, reaffirming that the House of Representatives lacks the authority to override court verdicts or interfere in private financial disputes already resolved through due legal process.