Abuja, Nigeria – High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) don dey shine eye on Zenith Bank and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as dem don collect N85 million fine for freezing one customer account without proper order. This story no be small matter; it dey show wetin fit happen when bank wan play bad guy.
Justice Samirah Bature, wey deliver the judgment on Thursday, no hold back as she explain say bank no fit take ex parte ruling from magistrate court to freeze account without informing the customer. Na wetin dem call ‘illogical’, she talk, and plenty people go gree with am (who no go vex if dem just block your money?).
The aggrieved party, Abhulimen & Co, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Paulyn O. Abhulimen, na dem wey suffer this whole wahala. According to am, in 2024, dem freeze her firm account without any warning. When she ask why, bank officer Obi Okafor gree tell am say na police order from Mararaba Gurku magistrate court wey dem use block am.
But hold your horses! Justice Bature chop that reasoning like hot pepper. She say the magistrate court no get the power to issue such order on top banking matter, as section 251 of the Constitution dey back am up. Na Federal High Court dey hold court for financial issues, so magistrate no suppose dey enter that area at all.
“Na so e be say if big bank like Zenith Bank fit rely on one invalid order make dem freeze account, wetin we go fit talk about the smaller ones?” she yarn, causing palpitations for the bank’s legal team (I no fit imagine dem faces when she dey talk). She further highlight say na serious negligence for bank to no inform the customer about wetin dey happen with her account.
Now, na N60 million na im dey go to Abhulimen & Co as general damages for all the wahala dem make dem face: embarrassment, stress, financial trouble, name am. Plus, dem go get N25 million as cost of the action. The court even dictate say Zenith Bank gatz make amends: unfreeze the account now-now, and dey publish apology for two national newspapers and for their website; no be small punishment oh!
This case fit serve as big warning to other banks wey dey think say dem fit just dey do anyhow. Make dem no forget say padi wey wan collect his money fit turn tiger if dem no handle am well. This nah the kind ruling wey go make other financial institutions to check dem operations before dem fit dey freeze account for any silly reason.
As for Abhulimen, her worries don turn to smiles thanks to this landmark judgment. E just show say, na good law and correct application of the law go fit protect small man from bad guys wey no dey follow due process. Na wetin we go call justice!
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