Akinola Salami, the founder of Un1ty Nigeria – the organisers of the popular talent show, The Voice Africa, is in trouble over an alleged debt of ₦384,020,723.36 owed Fundquest Financial Services Limited, THE WITNESS reports.
This is as Justice (Dr.) R.O. Olukolu of the Lagos State High Court has issued a Mareva injunction, freezing all bank accounts linked to Salami, his companies – Un1ty Nigeria, Fame Studios Limited, and his business associate, Uzoma Onwuchekwa.
The ruling follows a motion ex-parte filed by the finance company on February 24, 2025, in Suit No. LD/9113GCM/2025.
Fundquest, represented by legal counsel, Olamide Balogun, sought the injunction to prevent the defendants from accessing funds held in 21 commercial banks across Nigeria, pending the resolution of the case.
According to the filing, Akinola Salami (Akinola Morakinyo Salami ) and Uzoma Onwuchekwa obtained the loan in March 2023 through Un1ty Nigeria Limited. Despite repeated demands, they have allegedly failed to repay the amount.
The injunction restrains the defendants from operating accounts in a wide range of financial institutions, including Access Bank Plc, CITI Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, First City Monument Bank plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, Globus Bank, Jaiz Bank, Keystone Bank, Polaris Bank, Providus Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank. It also extends to Standard Chartered Bank, Sterling Bank, Taj Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Wema Bank and Zenith Bank and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).
THE WITNESS reports that the court also granted the order seeking the said banks to file an affidavit before the court disclosing any amount in the name of the defendants and standing to their credits and any sum therein.
Furthermore, the court granted an order by the applicant preventing Airtel Networks Limited—listed as a party in the suit—from releasing any funds, including a $950,000 payment allegedly due to the defendants (Fame Studios) and his team for the production of The Voice Nigeria show.
In addition, the court also prohibited the defendants, their agents, or assigns from disposing of, transferring, or otherwise alienating any movable or immovable assets, including money, shares, stocks, and other financial instruments, until the substantive matter is determined.
The judge, therefore, adjourned the case to 3rd of June, 2025, for hearing of pending application.
