April 24, (THEWILL) — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has slammed FHT Mega Express Limited for abuse of court process, dismissing its ₦7.1 billion suit against Parallex Bank Limited in its entirety and awarding ₦500,000 in costs in favour of the bank, after finding that the action was riddled with forum shopping, concealment of material facts, and duplicative litigation.
THEWILL reports that the ruling delivered on April 20, 2026, upheld the preliminary objection filed by Parallex Bank. The court held that the suit was fundamentally incompetent and deliberately instituted to undermine a subsisting action before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The ruling also nullified the ex parte order earlier obtained by FHT Mega Express to freeze the bank’s funds up to ₦7.1 billion with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ). It held that the freezing order was secured through material non-disclosure, stressing that ex parte reliefs are granted only on the basis of utmost good faith, candour, and full disclosure—conditions it held the claimant failed to satisfy.
The dispute originates from an alleged ₦4.5 billion indebtedness owed by FHT Mega Express to Parallex Bank Limited, arising from Letters of Credit issued to finance import transactions worth millions of euros. In a bid to recover the debt, the bank had earlier, on September 4, 2025, filed Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1774/2025 before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In that case, Justice Lewis Allagoa ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matter. However, rather than comply with that directive, the court held that FHT Mega Express embarked on multiple actions across different jurisdictions in a calculated attempt to secure favourable interim orders.
Evidence before the court showed that after failing to obtain similar ex parte reliefs at the Lagos State High Court, the company withdrew that case and, within days, filed the Abuja suit raising substantially the same claims. Crucially, it failed to disclose the existence of the pending Lagos Federal High Court proceedings, the subsisting status quo order, and its unsuccessful attempt to secure similar orders elsewhere.
The court held that this suppression of material facts misled it into granting interim orders that ought not to have been made, describing the conduct as a clear case of forum shopping and an abuse of judicial process. It warned that such practices undermine the integrity of the judiciary and disrupt the orderly administration of justice.
Consequently, the court dismissed the suit in its entirety, vacated the freezing order, and awarded ₦500,000 in costs against FHT Mega Express, noting that the sanction was necessary to reflect the gravity of the abuse and deter similar conduct.
The ruling restores full control over the affected funds to Parallex Bank Limited and clears the path for the bank to continue its recovery action in the Lagos Federal High Court, where the substantive dispute over the alleged ₦4.5 billion debt remains pending.
Legal analysts say the judgement reinforces the judiciary’s firm stance against multiplicity of suits and underscores the obligation of litigants to make full and frank disclosure, particularly when seeking ex parte reliefs. It is also expected to serve as a strong precedent in commercial and banking litigation, affirming that the courts will not tolerate attempts to manipulate judicial processes for strategic advantage.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
