Adelakun N.O and Another v Worldpay LLC (3484/19 and 3485/19) [2024] ZAWCHC 129 (26 April 2024)

Adelakun N.O and Another v Worldpay LLC (3484/19 and 3485/19) [2024] ZAWCHC 129 (26 April 2024)

The court found that the applicants, including Mr. Adelakun, the Trust, Touch of Fame Group, and Touch of Energy Corporation, failed to establish any exceptional circumstances or bona fide defence that would justify rescission of the sequestration orders under section 149(2) of the Insolvency Act or Rule 42(1)(a). The applicants had fully participated in the original proceedings, were legally represented, and had unsuccessfully appealed the orders to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court. The alleged exoneration in foreign criminal proceedings was irrelevant to the civil standard required for sequestration, which was based on proven indebtedness and acts of insolvency. The...

Citation
[2024] ZAWCHC 129
Parties
Applicant: Jyde Aremu Breimmo Adelakun N.O.; Applicant: Jyde Aremu Breimmo Adelakun; Applicant: Touch of Fame Group; Applicant: Touch of Energy Corporation; Respondent: Worldpay LLC; Respondent: Zeenath Kajee N.O.; Respondent: Thabisile Dlamini-Smit N.O.
Court
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Judgment Date
26 April 2024
Case Number
3484/19 & 3485/19
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Application for Rescission of Sequestration Orders and Declaratory Relief; Heard and Judgment Delivered
Outcome
Applications for rescission of sequestration orders dismissed with punitive costs.
Judges
V C Saldanha
Legal Topics
Sequestration Orders, Rescission Application, Jurisdiction Challenge, Abuse of Process, Creditor Claims, Company Representation

Case Brief

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Parties

Jyde Aremu Breimmo Adelakun N.O.

Applicant

Jyde Aremu Breimmo Adelakun

Applicant

Touch of Fame Group

Applicant

Touch of Energy Corporation

Applicant

Worldpay LLC

Respondent

Zeenath Kajee N.O.

Respondent

Thabisile Dlamini-Smit N.O.

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Application for Rescission of Sequestration Orders and Declaratory Relief; Heard and Judgment Delivered

  1. 1 Whether the applicants have established grounds for rescission of the sequestration orders under section 149(2) of the Insolvency Act or Rule 42(1)(a).
  2. 2 Whether the applicants have demonstrated exceptional circumstances or a bona fide defence to justify rescission.
  3. 3 Whether the South African court had jurisdiction over the sequestration proceedings given the choice of law clause in the Bank Card Merchant Agreement.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the applicants, including Mr. Adelakun, the Trust, Touch of Fame Group, and Touch of Energy Corporation, failed to establish any exceptional circumstances or bona fide defence that would justify rescission of the sequestration orders under section 149(2) of the Insolvency Act or Rule 42(1)(a). The applicants had fully participated in the original proceedings, were legally represented, and had unsuccessfully appealed the orders to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court. The alleged exoneration in foreign criminal proceedings was irrelevant to the civil standard required for sequestration, which was based on proven indebtedness and acts of insolvency. The...

Court Disposition

Applications for rescission of sequestration orders dismissed with punitive costs.

Orders

  • The applications for rescission of the sequestration orders in respect of both the first and second application are dismissed.
  • The further relief including the declaratory orders sought in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the second application are likewise dismissed.