Banks shutdown imminent as NUBIFIE protest arrest of president

National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has threatened to close all banks in the country if its president, Comrade Danjuma Musa, is not released from police detention.

At a briefing in Lagos, the NUBIFIE Secretary‎ Comrade Muhammed Sheikh said Musa was arrested and detained at Area F Police Command in Lagos before he was flown to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja last Friday.

However, the union threatened to shut down all banks nationwide if its president is not released in good condition.

“The general public should withdraw their money because we will ensure all banks are closed if Danjuma Musa is not released in good condition of health to Lagos,” the union said.

NUBIFIE said an intra-union dispute, which led to Musa’s arrest, had been adjudicated and settled by the courts.

It said the losing party, who it said was not a member of the union, accused Musa of threat to life and stealing, following which the IGP ordered his arrest.

“We wish to categorically state that Odiaka Nwanji masterminded the arrest and detention of Danjuma Musa by the Area F Police command Ikeja, on the directive of the IGP.”

“The issue of stolen money is diversionary and false, police authority should release Danjuma Musa at federal SARS Abuja. The IGP cannot deny the directive to his officer who came from Abuja to arrest Danjuma Musa ‎and delivered him to IGP.”

“The Inspector-General of Police should know that he cannot work for a group of people against Nigerian workers and leadership of NUBIFIE,” Sheikh said.

The union said the allegation of theft and threat to life was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Alagbon, but no charges were filed.

“There is only one NUBIFIE and the president and General Secretary are Musa and Sheikh. This issue has been judicially settled.