By Uzoma Akobundu
Concerted efforts made on Tuesday by management of Ecobank to reopen two of her branches sealed by the court yielded little results.
The 102A and B Wethdral Road and Assumpta Avenue branches of Ecobank were ordered seale by the High court in Owerri which ruled in a matter of alleged criminal case that resulted in a writ of garnishee placed on Ecobank.
The bank was to pay almost N24million to the plaintiff based on the order of the court which the management allegedly tried to circumvent.
One chief Mrs. Chidinma Chilaka reportedly sued Ecobank, UBA and Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area in respect of a business relationship which she thought was criminal.
Her counsel, Akachi Onyeneke got a ruling that favoured Chilaka and hurting to Ecobank, UBA and Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government as defendants.
UBA took steps to clear her name from the case but Ecobank allegedly resorted to ways Onyeneke considered more criminal as the bank allegedly attempted breaking open their offices against the order of the court that they remained sealed till the substantive case is dispensed with.
The court granted Onyeneke’s prayers last month which prompted the bailiffs to proceed to effect the court order on Tuesday.
Ecobank staff and their customers were chased out of the branches while the management ran from pillar to post to remedy the situation same day without luck.
Armadanews.com was informed by police authorities in Owerri that there was little they could do as the order to seal the bank came from the court.
The police commissioner in Imo state was said to have told Ecobank management that approached the police on Tuesday that the best thing was for the bank to obey the court order.
When Armadanews.com visited the Ecobank branches on Wednesday morning the branches were still locked with some of the staff found lurking around.
A senior management staff of Ecobank who spoke with this newspaper on Tuesday confirmed knowledge of the matter.
He told our reporter he would call by the close of work same day to avail him of details but did not.
When Armadanews.com contacted him again on the matter on Wednesday he said Ecobank appealed the judgement and that the appellants were enforcing an old order of the court. He however said he wants to make further contacts with the legal department of Ecobank.