Umahi orders reopening of sealed bank in Ebonyi

Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi has ordered the immediate reopening of the Eke Market branch of First Bank Plc earlier sealed by the coordinator, Afikpo North Development Centre for failing to obey the state safety measures for curbing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, on Monday evening, Governor Umahi stated that the coordinator never sought his permission or that of the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, before sealing the bank.

Governor Umahi, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, noted that the coordinator would have sought the permission of his office before sealing the bank and called for the immediate unsealing of the bank premises.

He noted that the state government would not condone the activities of commercial banks that do not comply with the safety protocols set by the state government and called for full compliance to the safety protocols.

Governor Umahi assured that his administration would continue to work towards safe-guarding the health of all the citizens of the state and stop the further spread of the coronavirus in the state. 

Our correspondent recalls that business activities at the Afikpo branch of the bank were paralyzed earlier on Monday, following the sealing of the bank by the local government COVID-19 task force team for failing to obey the state’s safety measures.

In an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the local government Chairman, Oko Enyim said that the local government during its stakeholders meeting last week directed all banks, restaurants, drinking joints and other business areas to adhere strictly to the state government safety protocols on preventive measures against the spread of the virus.

Enyim stated that when the team arrived the bank, it was observed that none of the preventive measures instructed to be adhered to by the state government was put in place by the bank.

“Our task force team this morning visited banks in the local government to monitor the level of compliance. On arriving the Eke Market branch of a first generation bank, it was observed that none of the directives was adhered to.

“When the team made attempts to gain access into First Bank, the security personnel at the bank did not allow the team to gain access and all efforts made to speak with the management of the bank, fell on deaf ears.

“Before now, there has been several warnings for the bank to ensure that their customers wear face masks and ensure social distancing while transacting their business, but none of the warnings was taken into consideration by the bank.

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“So, the task force team today (Monday) had to seal the bank and stopped the bank from carrying out its operations today (Monday). We made it mandatory today (Monday) that we will not allow them to operate until they adhere strictly to all the preventive measures instructed by the government,” he said.

Also speaking, the Development Centre Coordinator of Afikpo North, Mrs. Amauche Otunta, alleged that when the team made efforts to gain access into the bank, the security personnels attached to the bank attacked them and tried to stop the team from sealing the bank.

She noted that when the team visited Zenith Bank Plc Afikpo branch, “the bank management complied immediately. We spoke to them. The bank asked the crowd to leave and when the team went back to ascertain if they complied, there was full compliance to all the measures.”