Parallex Bank Limited has called on the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to dismiss a N7.15 billion lawsuit filed against it by logistics firm FHT Mega Express Limited, arguing that the case amounts to a gross abuse of court process, forum shopping, incompetence, and a lack of jurisdiction.
The bank’s position is contained in a notice of preliminary objection and a motion on notice filed before the court, challenging the competence of the suit filed by FHT on November 20, 2025, and seeking to discharge an ex-parte interim order earlier obtained by the logistics firm.
Parallex Bank, one of Nigeria’s new-generation financial institutions, recalled that it had earlier commenced an action against FHT Mega Express at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, via Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1774/2025, by a writ of summons dated September 4, 2025. In that suit, the bank is seeking to recover an alleged N4.5 billion outstanding indebtedness owed to it by the logistics firm.
On October 14, 2025, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa, granted an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive issues, particularly FHT’s indebtedness to the bank.
According to Parallex Bank, instead of complying with the subsisting order of the Federal High Court, FHT Mega Express embarked on what it described as a series of abusive and vexatious legal strategies aimed at harassing the bank and frustrating the recovery of its alleged undisputed debt.
In its objection to the Abuja suit, the bank accused FHT of concealing material facts from the FCT High Court, including the existence of the earlier suit in Lagos and the subsisting order to maintain status quo.
The bank further disclosed that prior to filing the Abuja action, FHT had instituted a similar suit at the High Court of Lagos State, Suit No. LD/ADR/6143/2025, where it sought ex-parte orders to freeze or attach the bank’s funds in respect of the same Letters of Credit that form the basis of the Federal High Court action.
According to court documents, the Lagos State High Court declined to grant the ex-parte application and instead directed FHT to put the bank on notice.
Upon becoming aware of the suit, Parallex Bank filed a preliminary objection challenging it as an abuse of the earlier Federal High Court proceedings.
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The bank stated that after failing to secure the ex-parte orders and in the face of the objection, FHT discontinued the Lagos suit.
The Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Muyideen, subsequently struck out the case and reportedly ordered FHT to undertake corrective publications to neutralise earlier public information circulated at its instance, which the court found capable of scandalising the bank.
Parallex Bank further alleged that barely two days after withdrawing the Lagos suit on November 18, 2025, FHT filed the instant suit at the FCT High Court on November 20, 2025, again accompanied by an ex-parte application seeking similar reliefs that had earlier been refused.
The bank argued that the Abuja court was misled into granting the ex-parte orders, as the claimant failed to disclose the pendency of the Federal High Court suit and the failed attempts in Lagos.
Among the grounds listed by Parallex Bank in urging the court to dismiss the suit are that the action constitutes an impermissible attempt to re-litigate issues already pending before the Federal High Court; amounts to forum shopping and multiplicity of proceedings; and is calculated to irritate, harass, vex and annoy the bank through suppression of material facts and abuse of judicial processes.
In an affidavit deposed to by Mrs. Cynthia Akunaeziri, a manager at Parallex Bank, the bank detailed that the Lagos Federal High Court suit seeks judgment in the sum of N4.5 billion, being outstanding liabilities arising from several Letters of Credit opened in favour of FHT Mega Express, including facilities denominated in euros.
The bank also stated that it is seeking to protect its banker’s lien over consignments and goods financed under the said Letters of Credit, with leave to dispose of the goods and apply the proceeds towards the liquidation of FHT’s alleged indebtedness.
According to the affidavit, both the withdrawn Lagos State High Court suit and the current Abuja suit relate to the same Letters of Credit, involve the same parties, arise from the same facts, and raise identical or inseparable issues already before the Federal High Court.
Parallex Bank maintained that the Abuja suit was deliberately commenced to obtain ex-parte reliefs earlier refused in Lagos, and that any decision in the matter would inevitably interfere with and prejudge issues pending before the Federal High Court.
The bank therefore urged the FCT High Court to dismiss the suit in its entirety, insisting that it was filed in bad faith to overreach the bank and prevent the repayment of its alleged debt.
The court adjourned the matter to February 4, 2026, for hearing of Parallex Bank’s preliminary objection seeking to dismiss the suit.