By Uzoma Akobundu
Stranded Ecobank staff in Owerri on Tuesday after being chased iut of their branches.
Two key branches of Ecobank in Owerri the Imo state capital were Tuesday morning sealed off by the police.
The branches are those of 102A and B Wethdral Road and Assumpta Avenue, and the police were acting on the judgement of the Owerri High Court that ruled in favour of one chief Mrs. Chidinma Chilaka who was presing charges on Ecobank in respect of a business transaction.
Ecobank reportedly defaulted on the business terms and allegedly gave the plaintiff a payment invoice that turned out to be dud.
Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Ecobank and UBA were the defendants in matter but UBA had long riggled out of the criminal case while Ecobank allegedly resorted to more criminal ways.
Ecobank which was under garnishee order over the property the bank occupies against the writ of the court allegedly attempted breaking open their offices to commence business.
Akachi Onyeneke, counsel to the plaintiff who obtained the writ on garnishee for nearly N24 million returned to the court to praise for sanctions against Ecobank which was granted last month.
On Tuesday morning, the police led Onyeneke to the Ecobank branches to fully enforce the orders of the court.
Armadanews.com which witnessed the execution of the order saw Ecobank personnel and customers being driven out of the branches.
Most customers said they were not in the know of what happened as they could not transact business with the bank.
Some of the Ecobank personnel feigned ignorance of the garnishee order while others blamed the management for failing to handle the court matter properly.
At press time the police were keeping the bank staff away from the offices.
A corporate affairs officer of Ecobank who was contacted confirmed knowledge of the ugly development and told Armadanews.com he would get back to him before the close of work on Tuesday on details over the latest matter.