WAMPCO, UBA And 2 Of WAMPCO’s Directors
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has alleged that Western Metal Products Company (WEMPCO), used suspected thugs and hoodlums to evict a court-appointed Receiver/Manager out of the steel group’s Ogun State factory.
It would be recalled that UBA had made an application to take over the firm before Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court, Lagos, wherein it seeks to commit the directors and other staff of the company to prison over alleged disobedience to the court’s order.
UBA Plc had also asked the court to send nine people linked to western metal products co. (wempco) to prison.
The committal notice which was filed at the Court and published in The Nation on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, under an order allowing service by newspaper.
The bank had accused the respondents of “wilful, deliberate and orchestrated disobedience” of an April 2 order and asks that they stay in prison until they comply.
Those listed as alleged contemnors in the suit are; Lewis Shui Noor Tung, Phillip Shui Che Tung, Alhaji M. A. Ola Yusuf, Tung Lawrence Blake, Alli Aare Hadji Tokunbo, Paul Shui Po Tung, Robert Tung, CL Ip and Taiwo Alli.
Alli is Managing Director of Nigerian Enamelware Company Plc, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange and is one of the 17 defendant companies, while Robert Tung sits on its board.
On April 2, Justice Akintayo Aluko, had frozen all accounts links to WAMPCO amounting to N61.45 billion across 27 banks and fintechs firms in the country.
The court has equally appointed Romeo Ese Michael as Receiver/Manager over assets not already pledged under a 2019 credit agreement.
UBA’s affidavit says that after bailiffs handed over the Magboro/Ibafo plant, the respondents brought in thugs, broke the receiver’s locks and threatened his staff with “serious injury.”
It says they kept running the business and diverting its funds. None of the allegations has been tested in court, and WEMPCO’s response was not immediately available.
The court papers also show failed talks.
On June 22, WEMPCO’s lawyers at SimmonsCooper Partners, led by Mr. Dapo Akinosun (SAN) had asked UBA for an urgent meeting. They proposed an interim standstill, a joint reconciliation of the accounts and “a structured framework for repayment.”
UBA’s lawyer, Temilolu Adamolekun (SAN), had replied the next day. He questioned how the same company “deploying physical violence on ground and resorting to self-help” could ask for dialogue, but agreed to meet.
The two sides met at UBA’s Marina head office on June 26 and agreed a joint inspection of the Magboro site for July 2. WEMPCO and its lawyers did not show up and have since “gone incommunicado,” the affidavit says.
The bank says the plant has stayed under the respondents’ control since then.
MoneyCentral first reported the WEMPCO action on October 16, when UBA won a judgment against Stallion Group using the same receiver.
Justice Akintayo Aluko had on April 2 froze up to N61,445,695,993.76 of WEMPCO across 27 banks and fintechs and appointed the receiver-manager.
Under the April 2 order, banks and fintech platforms including Moniepoint, OPay and Kuda must disclose and hold any balances belonging to the defendants. The receiver’s powers also cover two Wärtsilä power generators “wherever they may be found.”
The other defendants include Lagos Oriental Hotel Ltd., United Rolling Mills Ltd., Wempco Steel Mill Co. and Prime Nigeria Tiles Co.
WEMPCO was founded by K.F. Tung, who first came to Nigeria in 1967.