Fidelity Bank gives detailed explanation on viral video of musical band in Anambra
Fidelity Bank PLC., has reacted the viral vide of alleged customer with a music band outside one of its branches in Anambra State, Nigeria.
The Bank, in a statement signed by Meksley Nwagboh, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, said contrary to media reports claiming that the man was wrongfully debited by the bank, the video emanated from a picketing exercise organized by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees over a dispute they have with the Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority.
“To this end, we had earlier issued a statement explaining that while the Union obtained a garnishee Order against the accounts of Anambra State Government in Fidelity Bank, we are unable to honour it as the Judgment Debtors, Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, immediately filed a Notice of Appeal as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of Court dated the Garnishee Order was granted.
“The Union is aware of these processes as they were served on them. The Motion for Stay of Execution is still pending and had not yet been heard and determined when the Union took the law into its hands to attack Fidelity Bank”.
Fidelity Bank had issued a statement regarding picketing of its branches and offices nationwide by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE) in an apparent attempt to enforce a garnishee order absolute made by the National Industrial Court, Enugu.
The Union had approached the National Industrial Court, Enugu for the enforcement of an arbitral award obtained by the Union against the Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority by way of a garnishee order against the accounts of Anambra State Government in Fidelity Bank.
In a ruling delivered on January 11, 2022, the National Industrial Court, Enugu made the Garnishee Order Absolute against Fidelity Bank and another bank.
Fidelity Bank, however, said that the Judgment Debtors, Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, immediately filed a Notice of Appeal dated the 12th day of January 2022 as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of Court dated the same 12th day of January 2022.
“The Union is aware of these processes as they were served on them. The motion for stay of execution is still pending and has not yet been heard and determined when the Union took the law into its hands to attack Fidelity Bank.
“As a law-abiding Corporate citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are guided by the rule of law. Accordingly, where parties have submitted their process to the Court, such parties should follow the due process of the law to enforce their rights and not take the laws into their hands.
“It is also our view that picketing is an industrial dispute resolution mechanism that is reserved for the settlement of industrial disputes. Fidelity Bank has no industrial dispute with the Union as to warrant the picketing of any of our branches.
Accordingly, the attack on our Bank by the Union is an irresponsible use of brute force by the Union on a law-abiding corporate citizen,” the earlier statement reads.
Fidelity Bank further said that as a responsible financial organization, the management and staff remain committed to the due process of the law, and assured all the customers of the unwavering commitment to providing them with superior service delivery.
