By Jane Echewedo

A bank customer, Anthony Okpala has filed a N50m suit against Eco bank at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja  for allegedly infringing on his human rights.

Okpala, a Lagos-based businessman and the Chief Executive Officer of Mashuchun International Ltd, in a 29-paragraphed affidavit in support of his action stated that his travails with the bank started when he was invited to the Ikotun, Lagos, branch of the bank by one Mr. Agwu   Olugu, the Resident Internal Control officer (RICO) of the bank for interrogation over N10m that was transferred to his company’s Bank account by a customer, Mr. Rabiu Lawal.

Okpala said he admitted to Olugu that there was such a transaction and it was done in good faith at the Ejigbo, branch  in the presence of Mr. Oluwafemi   Oladele, a staff of Ecobank, who is also the witness in the business agreement signed by both parties.

He added that he was taken in by the assurances of Mr. Oluwafemi, who in addition told him that he had been the account officer to Rabiu, right from the branch where the account was domiciled, before he was posted to Fadu branch, stating that he knew Rabiu very well. Apparently, satisfied with his explanation, the RICO, let him go but agreed to invite him any time their Complainant is available at the branch, more so as his corporate and current accounts with the bank were still being run by himself and his company.

Events however, took a turn for the worse, when bank officials with men described as policemen from Ikoyi Divisional   Police Station, Lagos, allegedly stormed Okpala’s residence, which according to the plaintiff was in contravention of an earlier court order, restraining Ecobank and or its agents from harassing or arresting any person in the matter pending at the High Court.