Former Super Eagles striker, Nwankwo Kanu just revealed how
suspected vandals invaded his Hardley Apartments situated along Waziri Ibrahim
Crescent on Victoria Island, and made away with his football medals, trophies,
plaques and other valuable items.
The hotel has been sealed up since 2015 sequel to an alleged
default in transaction between it and Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank), leading to
series of litigation that is still pending at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi,
Lagos. The last hearing came up in November last year after which the case was
adjourned till 31 January 2019.
However, a shocked Kanu, who was in London for the Yuletide,
learnt from relatives and business associates in Nigeria last week that the
Apartments, with registration number 509102, had been occupied by some
authorized persons who had also commenced renovation of the facility in
disregard of the seal order and litigation, forcing him to arrive in Nigeria
over the weekend to verify the claims.
The case between former Super Eagles’ captain Nwankwo Kanu
and AMCON has taken a new turn, as it
became clear that some people are bent on taking over his hotel.
The hotel, Hardley Apartment, is subject of a court case
over an alleged unrepaid bank loan.
“It was a rude shock
to me,” Kanu, who fought back tears at what the hitherto sprawling facility had
become since the renovation started, told TheCable. I almost couldn’t recognise
the hotel as belonging to me anymore. This is the saddest day of my life as I
cannot understand why this happen to me when the matter has yet to be settled
in court.
“All the medals I have earned, in addition to the Olympic
torch that I cherished are all gone and I don’t even know who to ask for all
these prized assets. This is unacceptable in all ramifications. I have not been
served any notice that I have lost this property and until I am served the
notice, it remains my legal property,” the former Super Eagles’ captain
said.
“Even cars and buses
belonging to the hotel can no longer be found and I wonder where they could
have been moved to without my knowledge,” Kanu further said, even as he
lamented how the four-year seal of the facility had adversely affected
treatment for numerous patients that his Kanu Heart Foundation planned to
rescue from their ailment.
“We have used proceeds from the hotel business to effect
treatment for the patients over the years and now we are being forced to seek
funds elsewhere, a situation that has stalled the treatment considerably
especially since 2016. During my service to this country in football up to year
2000, I made many Nigerians happy. I don’t think I deserve this sadness in
retirement.”
