A Warri-based businessman, Mr Samuel Esiegbuya has dragged the Zenith Bank Plc to a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri over alleged freezing of his bank account.
The Zenith bank allegedly freezed the account of Esiegbuya, domicile at the Ogunu branch of the financial institution in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In the Writ of Summon obtained on Monday by newsmen, the matter is expected to be heard on Dec. 2, 2024.
Mr Esiegbuya (Claimant) in the suit filed through his Counsel, O.O Ohimor Esq.,
said that he had a Savings account with the Zenith bank who is the Defendant in the suit..
Esiegbuya explained that sometime in December 2017 at about 2:15pm, he visited the defendant’s Ogunu branch, warri to carry out some business transactions using his Automated Teller Machine
(ATM) card.
He said that surprisingly, the transaction was unsuccessful due to the ATM restriction on his account.
According to him, he had to plead with his business partner following the unsuccessful transaction occasioned by the unlawful restriction.
Infuriated by the development, he had to visit the Ogunu branch the following day to lodge complaint on his observations and why he could not transact with his account.
He said that a staff of the bank told him that his bank account had a Post No Debit (PND) placed thereon.
Esiegbuya said that he thereafter formally wrote to the Head Office of the Zenith Bank in Lagos on Jan. 30, 2018 to enquire why PND was placed on his account.
The Claimant said that after a long period of time, when he could not get any response from the bank’s head office, he had to write another letter to the Ogunu branch of the bank on May 13, 2019.
Esiegbuya said that following the levity posture of the bank in treating his complaint, he thereafter caused his Counsel to write the Ogunu branch of the bank on Sept.19, 2024, urging the financial institution to allow him have unrestricted access to his account.
He said that despite receiving his Counsel’s letter, the bank yet remained adamant and continued to restrict his accounts without any reason or competent order from a court of competent Jurisdiction.
“Being a family man and a businessman, the continuous illegal and unlawful act of the Zenith Bank Plc freezing my account has caused me and my business untold hardship.
“The wrongful conduct of the bank has put me in a position where my business partners and associates no longer trust me and desire to do business with me.
“All these have placed me under psychological pressure as a business man,” he lamented.
Esiegbuya said that it was on that notes he sought the declaration of the competent court that the act of the Zenith Bank Plc restricting his account without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction is wrongful, illegal and unlawful.
He also seek an order of the court mandating/directing the bank to immediately lift the Post No Debit/restrictions wrongly, illegally and unlawfully placed on his account.
The Claimant is also asking for a N100 million as general damages only against the Zenith Bank for the wrongful, illegal and unlawful freezing of his account.
The Zenith bank allegedly freezed the account of Esiegbuya, domicile at the Ogunu branch of the financial institution in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In the Writ of Summon obtained on Monday by newsmen, the matter is expected to be heard on Dec. 2, 2024.
Mr Esiegbuya (Claimant) in the suit filed through his Counsel, O.O Ohimor Esq.,
said that he had a Savings account with the Zenith bank who is the Defendant in the suit..
Esiegbuya explained that sometime in December 2017 at about 2:15pm, he visited the defendant’s Ogunu branch, warri to carry out some business transactions using his Automated Teller Machine
(ATM) card.
He said that surprisingly, the transaction was unsuccessful due to the ATM restriction on his account.
According to him, he had to plead with his business partner following the unsuccessful transaction occasioned by the unlawful restriction.
Infuriated by the development, he had to visit the Ogunu branch the following day to lodge complaint on his observations and why he could not transact with his account.
He said that a staff of the bank told him that his bank account had a Post No Debit (PND) placed thereon.
Esiegbuya said that he thereafter formally wrote to the Head Office of the Zenith Bank in Lagos on Jan. 30, 2018 to enquire why PND was placed on his account.
The Claimant said that after a long period of time, when he could not get any response from the bank’s head office, he had to write another letter to the Ogunu branch of the bank on May 13, 2019.
Esiegbuya said that following the levity posture of the bank in treating his complaint, he thereafter caused his Counsel to write the Ogunu branch of the bank on Sept.19, 2024, urging the financial institution to allow him have unrestricted access to his account.
He said that despite receiving his Counsel’s letter, the bank yet remained adamant and continued to restrict his accounts without any reason or competent order from a court of competent Jurisdiction.
“Being a family man and a businessman, the continuous illegal and unlawful act of the Zenith Bank Plc freezing my account has caused me and my business untold hardship.
“The wrongful conduct of the bank has put me in a position where my business partners and associates no longer trust me and desire to do business with me.
“All these have placed me under psychological pressure as a business man,” he lamented.
Esiegbuya said that it was on that notes he sought the declaration of the competent court that the act of the Zenith Bank Plc restricting his account without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction is wrongful, illegal and unlawful.
He also seek an order of the court mandating/directing the bank to immediately lift the Post No Debit/restrictions wrongly, illegally and unlawfully placed on his account.
The Claimant is also asking for a N100 million as general damages only against the Zenith Bank for the wrongful, illegal and unlawful freezing of his account.
