By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Angry Ex-militant leaders from different camps in Bayelsa State, on Monday morning shut down United Bank of Africa, UBA, Onopa branch in Yenagoa, the state capital, over alleged fraud and unauthorized freezing of a member’s bank account.
The protesters who were armed with placards, of various inscriptions, such as “Stop the fraud, unfreeze Akpos account, Federal High Court didn’t issue any order restricting his account, Motion on Notice isn’t a court order” among others, crippled economic activities in the bank leaving customers stranded for hours.
Secretary, Second Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Hon. Okegbe Owei Brisibe, said “Our reasons of protest here this morning is a legitimate one and we will do everything within the ambit of the law to achieve our aim.
Brisibe said, “There was a magistrate court order vacating a an earlier claim by a member, but instead of them to go through the process of court, they went to obtain a motion on notice to freeze another members account, which we believe is illegal.
“There was no order freezing his account because we have asked and nobody is bringing that forth, one Mr. Peter Edafe, the Customer Service manager is the mastermind of this act, and we will not accept it.”
The defendant, Mr. Passman Akpos, while speaking with journalists, explained that a fellow obtained a motion on notice and gave to the bank which led to restricting his account from operations.
Akpos added “This is an illegality of the highest order, how can a bank based on a motion of notice freeze my account? We are protesting because it wasn’t an order, and the right thing must be done.
“There are a lot of ex-agitators who needs to get their stipends, and they are holding their.monies down. We won’t have bordered to protest if it was a court order but this is illegal and I won’t accept it.This is a conspiracy between the bank and one of their customers who seek to block my account on baseless issues.
“They have pleaded that we give them sometime to sort out the issues and unfreeze my account, so disbursement can be done to others and we won’t leave the bank till it is done,” he added.
Another leader, commander Isreal Claudius, noted that the bank has resolved to unfreeze the account and the matter resolved amicably, adding that the disbursement to other members will take effect soonest.
He maintained that they didn’t take laws into our hands, a d that the security agents that came around has pleaded and they have cooperated but if not done at the time given they will have to let them bear the consequences of their illegal action.
Efforts by our correspondent to hear from the manager of the branch, proved abortive, as he said that he was new in the branch and won’t talk on the matter, rather they are working to get it resolved in no distance time.As at the time of filing this report, business activities had gradually returned back to the affected branch.
