By Gloria Ugwuoke
Financial institutions in Nigeria sometimes resort to violence over monetary defaults from customers.
As witnessed at Nnewi High Court on Tuesday, April 4th, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has been charged to court over the arrest and detainment of an apprentice, Mr.Isaac Chukwu in Nnewi.
A business man, identified as Mr Mbam Thankgod, who hails from Ebonyi State took a loan of about 2 million naira from FCMB last year and has since sold off his business and fled without a trace.
However, the effects of his rash decisions is being received by his apprentice who is being asked by FCMB to provide his Master at all cost. Mr. Chukwu has been in and out of the police cell for a while but insists that he has nothing to do with the aforementioned financial transaction.
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Speaking to Anaedoonline, Mr. Chukwu, disclosed that “around October 2022, my Master sold his shop and everything in it without letting me know… After a while, on the 21st of December, I was arrested by the police and detained at CPS Awka…”
The Apprentice whose business journey began in 2015 is said to have faithfully served his Master before the event took place. Unfortunately, Instead of being settled, he has been in and out of police custody for a while.
“I served my Oga for eight years and was waiting to be settled when I realized he was no where to be found. I found another place where I was working at the time of the arrest. I spent 3 days in police custody and was granted bail on the condition that I bring my Oga to FCMB…” he said.
I searched everywhere, then went back to explain my findings to the bank manager who insisted I should keep looking… I have spent all my earnings on transportation to different places in a bid to find my Oga, all to no avail. I don’t know who the guarantor is or how to begin to trace my Oga…”.
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The timely intervention of Ven. Prince Chukwuma the founder of All Apprentices Fellowship led the release of Mr. Chukwu from police custody. The human rights advocate equally helped the apprentice to speak up on this issue by going to court.
On his connection to the priest, he said, “Through the mercy of God, I was able to join a fellowship for Umuboi when I came to Nnewi in 2015. So when this issue came up, I called and informed him of the arrest…he prayed for me and I was detained till he came to the police office and I was granted bail…”.
Our correspondent also spoke to Ven. Prince Chukwuma popularly known as “Papa Umuboi” who revealed more details about the case.
In his words, “Last year, one of my sons in the fellowship, called me and asked for prayers that he is stranded. He said that his Master just left and the business has been shut down without prior notice. As a means of survival, he became a job man, carrying loads, drinks and equipment for people…”.
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The priest added that; “about December, the same person called me again that he is in the police cell…that he has been arrested by FCMB and he did nothing to warrant such…”.
He added that; “On further probe, I spoke to the IPO who let me know that the apprentice was arrested for him to go look for his Oga…”
” If he knows where his Oga is, the first point of action will be to ask for his settlement and not going through another torture because of his Oga…”.
“I spoke to the bank manager who says that the apprentice’s line was used to contact the bank at some point, leading to his involvement in the case…I asked him the legal grounds of such arrest since the man was not a suretee or guarantor to his Master at the point of collecting the loan. So why are you arresting the boy?”
“My only problem is that the poor boy should not be tortured anymore…We are trusting that the judicial system will do right by the boy as this is a violation of somebody’s human right.
You don’t arrest somebody because of a loan you gave to another person”.
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Speaking of Mr. Isaac, the clergyman described him as a hardworking youngman who has served his Master well for 8 years without settlement.
As at the time of publishing this report, the Nnewi High court of Justice is yet to begin the legal proceedings on the case as the apprentice, FCMB and all parties involved look forward to justice.
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