Fidelity Bank has responded to a viral video of a man singing outside one of its branches in Anambra with the help of a group. The bank disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The bank, in a statement, refuted claims that the man was wrongfully debited by Fidelity bank, adding that the picketing was organized by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE) over a dispute with the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA).
It also accused the union of using the law to attack Fidelity Bank despite the fact that the motion for stay of execution is still pending and has yet to be heard and decided.
“Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating online about a man signing at one of our branches,” the bank said in response to the band singing outside its premises.
“Contrary to media reports that the man was wrongfully debited by the bank, the video is actually a picketing exercise organized by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees over a dispute with the Anambra State Waste Management Authority.”
Referring to an earlier publication by the bank on the subject, it stated that while the union obtained a garnishee order against the Anambra State Government’s account in Fidelity Bank, it is unable to honor it because ASWAMA immediately filed a notice of appeal.
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“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 Anambra State Government’s accounts in Fidelity Bank,” the statement read.
“On January 11, 2022, the National Industrial Court in Enugu issued a ruling making the Garnishee Order Absolute against Fidelity Bank and another bank.”
“However, the Judgment Debtors, Anambra State Urban Water Holding Corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority, promptly filed a Notice of Appeal dated January 12, 2022, as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of Court dated January 12, 2022.” These processes are known to the Union because they were served on them. When the Union took the law into its own hands to attack Fidelity Bank, the motion for stay of execution was still pending and had yet to be heard and determined.
“We are guided by the rule of law as a law-abiding corporate citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
As a result, where parties have submitted their process to the Court, such parties should adhere to the due process of the law in order to enforce their rights, rather than taking the laws into their own hands.
“Picketing, in our opinion, is an industrial dispute resolution mechanism that is reserved for the resolution of industrial disputes.” Fidelity Bank is not involved in a labor dispute with the Union that would necessitate picketing at any of our branches.
“As a result, the Union’s attack on our Bank is an irresponsible use of brute force by the Union against a law-abiding corporate citizen.”
“As a responsible financial organization, we remain committed to the rule of law, and we want to assure all of our customers of our unwavering commitment to providing superior service delivery.”
