Court orders publication of winding‑up petition against firm over debt to former NFF boss Pinnick

By Henry Ojelu

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered that a winding‑up petition be published against Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Limited. The petition was filed because the company allegedly owes money to former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick OFR ROI.

Justice A. Nganjiwa delivered the ruling on 29 April 2026. He dismissed Monimichelle’s application to prevent the advertisement of the petition and granted Pinnick permission to publish the proceedings in line with the Companies Winding‑Up Rules 2001.

The petition, lodged with the Federal High Court, seeks to wind up Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Limited on the basis that the company cannot pay its debts, as stipulated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

Pinnick claims he advanced a loan of $100,000 and an additional N5 million to the company in 2023 to help complete a FIFA‑funded mini‑stadium project at Ugborodo in Delta State.

He says the funds were provided after the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ebi Ezekiel Egbe, told him that urgent financial assistance was needed while the project funds were pending release.

Pinnick also points to a written agreement dated 6 November 2023 in which the company acknowledged receipt of the funds and promised to repay the loan once payments related to the project were received.

According to the petition, Monimichelle has not repaid the debt despite repeated demands and a formal demand letter issued in March 2025.

The petitioner argues that the company’s inability to settle the outstanding sums, coupled with continued defaults, shows that it cannot pay its debts.

Pinnick also cites a letter from the NFF dated 15 July 2025 that terminated Monimichelle’s contract for the construction of the NFF/FIFA Forward 2.0 Mini Stadium at Ugborodo.

The termination notice, attached to the petition, states that the contract was ended because the company failed to resume work on site and bring the project to a level commensurate with the funds already released, despite being given notice to remedy the situation.

Monimichelle, through its solicitors, disputes the allegations of wrongdoing and maintains that delays in the project were caused by technical and logistical challenges.

In a response referenced in the court filings, the company’s lawyers acknowledged the existence of the November 2023 loan agreement but argued that unforeseen issues related to project drawings, topographical conditions and transportation constraints affected project execution.

Monimichelle also rejected claims of fraud, insisting there was no intent to deceive when the financial assistance was obtained and that project delays were due to operational challenges rather than misrepresentation.

The court has not yet decided on the substantive petition seeking the winding up of Monimichelle.

—Separate arbitration proceedings

The winding‑up petition comes alongside a separate arbitration dispute involving Monimichelle and the Incorporated Trustees of Brownhill Foundation, an entity linked to Pinnick.

The arbitration, initiated under the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023, alleges that Monimichelle breached two contracts awarded in 2023 for the construction of a standard synthetic football pitch and the installation of sports lighting facilities at Hussey College, Warri.

According to the claimant’s Point of Claim dated 28 October 2025, the foundation paid a total contract sum of N175 million to Monimichelle but the company failed to complete the projects within the agreed three‑month period.

The claimant further alleges it incurred additional expenses amounting to N76.12 million in site preparation, sand filling, logistics and other project‑related costs, and was subsequently forced to engage another contractor to finish the projects at an estimated additional cost of N43 million and $180,000.

Based on those allegations, Brownhill Foundation seeks declarations that Monimichelle breached the contracts, refunds of sums allegedly paid, damages, interest and costs.

Monimichelle has contested the claims in the arbitration proceedings, which remain pending before the arbitral tribunal.

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