Per Second News--Newly inaugurated senator representing Bayelsa State in the 8th National Assembly, Ben Murray-Bruce has been accused of owing suppliers millions of Naira, years after the closure of Lifestyle, owned by the Ben Bruce family.

Lifestyle is a major shop that was involved in marketing of books, gift items, toys and other materials nationwide.

The suppliers, claim to have delivered several merchandise to outlets owned by Ben Bruce, especially to the Galleria in Lagos.

The suppliers, some of whom took loan from banks to procure, import or produce the items before supplying them to Lifestyle became more frustrated when they learnt that key officials of the company that were in the know of the transactions had been forced to resign their appointments.

According to a supplier all attempts to meet with Ben Bruce and his siblings has been unsuccessful.

A Lagos based journalist and author of the book – the Niger Delta and Oil Politics, Udeme Akpan, confirmed that he was not paid even after Lifestyle completed the marketing of his books.

“It is true that Lifestyle owed many suppliers, including myself before closing shop a few years ago. The officials of the company have not made any efforts to settle the debts which amount to some millions of Naira.

“I have been paying interest because the funds we used in producing the book were raised from a bank,” Udeme lamented.

Due to huge operational cost business has gone sour for Ben Murray-Bruce and his brothers in recent times, as they have found themselves in the same situation that the original owners of the business, 'Nu Metro' found themselves prior to selling the business to Ben Bruce family.

“Ben Bruce and his brothers probably thought their case would be different, especially as they would not need to pay rent because the property belongs to them. But they were mistaken. For inexplicable reasons, the business was not successful. They therefore decided to close shop,” a source familiar with the deal said.

When Lifestyle ran into troubled waters, just like Nu Metro, the suppliers were full of hopes that their funds would be recovered, especially as the company was reportedly sent text messages, seeking understanding of suppliers and promising that their debts would be settled.

However, after some time, the word of reassurance seized. No messages came and when some of the creditors paid visits to the Victoria Island, Lagos office of the company, most of them were shocked by what they heard and saw.

Udeme said that when he discovered that the usual reassuring messages were no longer coming, he decided to visit the office and again, according to him, the lady she met promised that his own payment would be made within weeks.

However, as week turns into month, he decided to put a call through to the office, but alas, the same lady that had assured him that “mine would be paid within weeks,” later informed him on telephone that she should not be approached again on the matter as she had since resigned from the company.

Since then, Udeme said that efforts to get paid have been fruitless; especially as “staff of other Ben Bruce have been very hostile to everyone who goes there to ask for payment.

“This is most unfair, fraudulent and discourteous, especially coming from Ben Bruce who gives impression that he is committed to building a new Nigeria."

“Honestly, I am just wondering what value Ben Bruce and others would be adding to the National Assembly when they cannot show the best example in their own private life,” said an obviously enraged Udeme.

Effort to speak to Ben Bruce Family has been unsuccessful as at press time.


http://www.persecondnews.com/index.php/psn-news/item/3781-senator-ben-bruce-accused-of-defrauding-suppliers-millions-of-naira

Gobe

Persecondnews.com?

G

Lets wait and see what the talkative has to say on this.

Bloggers don come again o. Later we go hear "we are sorry for the false news". Yeye pple.

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