Chidi Okoro, a pharmacist and facilitator at the prestigious Lagos Business School, assisted by armed policemen and officers from G4S security company, on Monday, broke into the head office locations of HealthPlus, the pharmaceutical retail chain, in continuation of an attempted takeover of the company by Alta Semper Capital, a UK private equity firm.
In September, a Chidi Okoro was announced as Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) of HealthPlus by the equity firm, which said it had terminated the founder as CEO. The CEO, Mrs Olubukunola George, however maintained through her lawyers that she remains in charge of the company and that the dispute is before the Court.
Okoro, said sources, arrived at the HealthPlus headoffice in Lagos at midday on Monday. Insiders disclosed that the break-in began when Okoro, accompanied by Ernest Eguasa, appointed by Alta Semper Capital as HealthPlus’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in December; an IT expert and a contingent of armed policemen said to have been arranged by G4S Secure Solutions Nigeria, an unregistered private security company run by one Mike Kelleher, arrived the head office locations.
On arrival, the policemen were said to have manhandled the security men on duty because they barred them from entering the premises. They eventually forced their way in and went straight to the IT department in an attempt to seize control of the systems of the business. Staff of the IT department were, however, said to have refused to hand over the passwords.
Sources said that Chidi Okoro forced a staff to unlock her laptop. He also seized the laptop belonging to the company’s Graphic Artist. The IT expert then proceeded to hack the systems but was unsuccessful. Chidi Okoro placed the company’s Security Manager under duress, insisting that he dismisses the security officers from Prudential Guards who protect all company premises. Okoro forced the Security Manager to sign an undertaking but he refused.
Chidi Okoro and his cohorts laid siege on the premises for over six hours, leaving members of staff frightened because of the presence of seven gun wielding security officers. Staff were eventually allowed to leave. The armed policemen and staff of G4S were left behind. They also, on the orders of Okoro and Eguasa, promised to return with carpenters to change all the locks to the offices.
The forcible entry into the head office locations is in defiance of a Federal High Court ruling given last Wednesday by Justice Oguntoyinbo. Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered all parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the motion before the court. The question on everyone’s lips is, can Alta Semper act with such impunity in the United Kingdom?
The break-in is the latest episode in the equity investment dispute that erupted in September when Alta Semper Capital announced that it had terminated George and appointed Okoro as the CTO. The basis of the termination is a dud board resolution being brandished by Alta Semper. What is curious is that the company’s five-man had been decimated by resignation, with the Chairman, Dr. Ayo Salami; and another director, Deji Akinyanyu, quitting. The board also had not met for over eight months.
