Zenith bank logo.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The mills of lady justice seem to be grinding steadily forward in favour of the used and oppressed people of Nigeria these days if the judgement given at the Federal High Court, Lagos is anything to go by.
Most banking Nigerians have for months now continued to lament the amount of illegal charges, failed bank transfers, the inability to access their accounts and failed remittances experienced with some commercial banks in the cause of their banking activities. These occurrences have placed untold hardships on the generality of the banking populace with unimaginable consequences.
Inspite of the many hardships these have caused, many banks still continue to make life more miserable for the customers by denying them access to their money. The trend seems to be turning now as in a rather exciting turn, a Lagos High Court sitting at Court 44, Commercial division, Osborne Foreshore, Phase 2 Court House has awarded the sum of Two billion naira (N2, 000,000,000.00) only against Zenith bank PLC in favour of Tsami Babi Nig. Ltd, Amsamay Ltd and M.A.Y. Fine Fragrance as damages for the illegal restrictions placed on their accounts domiciled in the bank.
The presiding Judge on the matter, Justice (Dr.) Rasul Oriyomi Olukolu declared that the restrictions placed on these accounts are illegal and unlawful prior to a subsisting court order.
The court thereby ordered that the restrictions be removed, since the court order dated 16th November 2022 on the said accounts have all expired.
Justice Olukolu also awarded an exemplary damage of One Billion naira (N1,000,000,000.00) only against the bank in favour of another customer of the bank who had suffered the same fate. This judgement is expected to inspire more confidence in the judiciary as the appropriate place to go to seek redress in matters like this.
A new dawn certainly seems to opening up for the common man and there is great optimism that the judiciary is acting to see that justice prevails.
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