Fidelity Bank Plc has reacted to the picketing of some of its branches by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), despite that there is an appeal pending before the Appeal court against the January 11, 2022 ruling by the National Industrial Court (NIC), Enugu against the Bank.
The Union had approached the National Industrial Court, Enugu for the enforcement of an arbitral award it obtained against the Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation, and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, by way of a garnishee order against the accounts of Anambra State Government in Fidelity Bank.
However, the Judgment Debtors, Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, immediately filed a Notice of Appeal dated the 12th day of January 2022.
They also filed a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of Court dated the same 12th day of January 2022. AUPCTRE is aware of the processes as they were duly served.
The Motion for Stay of Execution is still pending and had not yet been heard nor determined when the AUPCTRE “took the law into its hands” to attack the financial institution.
In a statement, the top lender maintained that it was a law-abiding Corporate Citizen guided by the rule of law.
The Bank noted that parties that have a matter before the court should follow the due process of the law to enforce their rights and not take the law into their hands.
The lender noted that picketing is an industrial dispute resolution mechanism reserved for the settlement of industrial disputes.
“Fidelity Bank has no industrial dispute with the Union as to warrant the picketing of any of our branches.
“The attack on our Bank by the Union is an irresponsible use of brute force by the Union on a law-abiding corporate citizen.
“We remain committed to the due process of the law, and we wish to assure all our customers of our unwavering commitment to providing them with superior service delivery”, the bank said.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing picketing of Fidelity Bank’s branches and offices nationwide by the AMALGAMATED UNION OF PUBLIC CORPORATTIONS, CIVIL SERVICE TECHNICAL AND RECREATIONAL EMPLPOYEES (AUPCTRE) in an apparent attempt to enforce a garnishee order absolute made by the National Industrial Court, Enugu.
“The Union had approached the National Industrial Court, Enugu for the enforcement of an arbitral award obtained by the Union against the Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority by way of a garnishee order against the accounts of Anambra State Government in Fidelity Bank.
“In a ruling delivered on January 11, 2022, the National Industrial Court, Enugu made the Garnishee Order Absolute against Fidelity Bank and another bank.
“However, the Judgment Debtors, Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, immediately filed a Notice of Appeal dated the 12th day of January 2022 as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of Court dated the same 12th day of January 2022. The Union is aware of these processes as they were served on them. The motion for stay of execution is still pending and has not yet been heard and determined when the Union took the law into its hands to attack Fidelity Bank.
“As a law-abiding Corporate citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are guided by the rule of law. Accordingly, where parties have submitted their process to the Court, such parties should follow the due process of the law to enforce their rights and not take the laws into their hands.
“It is also our view that picketing is an industrial dispute resolution mechanism that is reserved for the settlement of industrial disputes. Fidelity Bank has no industrial dispute with the Union as to warrant the picketing of any of our branches.
“Accordingly, the attack on our Bank by the Union is an irresponsible use of brute force by the Union on a law-abiding corporate citizen.”
As a responsible financial organization, we remain committed to the due process of the law, and we wish to assure all our customers of our unwavering commitment to providing them with superior service delivery.”