Police officers on Thursday morning sealed Zenith Bank branches in Owerri, Imo State, over a litigation involving a former Deputy-Governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere.
Our correspondents who went round the town observed that the development left staff and customers of the bank stranded.
Findings reveals that a Garnishee Order by the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Owerri had given the police the authority to seal all the branches of Zenith bank in Owerri.
The court had directed Zenith Bank to settle Madumere’s entitlements, totaling N1.9 billion having them as one of the Imo State government banks.
It could be recalled that Prince Eze Madumere was a deputy governor to Rochas Okorocha who was purportedly impeached and a court of competent jurisdiction voided the said impeachment and as such ordered that all his entitlement as deputy governor be paid to him by the state government.
Reputable sources revealed that since then the Imo State Government under the watch of Hope Uzodinma, has been toiling him around with unfulfilled promises. Madumere was said to have made several unsuccessful efforts to resolve the matter internally since they are of same party.
When the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba was contacted, he said that the judgment was given in error considering the way and manner the judgement was and at same time foreclosed the State government from appeal,
The Commissioner said, “the judge who gave the judgment may have connived with the people against the Imo State Government. How can a judge give a judgement and bar the defendants from appealing it and gave 24 hours for the implementation of the judgement?
“I think that there is a vested interest. We are exploring other legal options to vacant the order. The judgement can’t stand serious legal scrutiny anywhere.
“There are policemen in Imo state but they went and brought policemen from zone 9 in Umuahia. Nobody can intimidate the government, we can’t be cowed. We must do what is right for the good of the people of Imo state.”