Alleged Corporate Bullying: Businessman Drags UBA To FCT High Court
An Abuja based businessman, Chief Abdulwahid Adeleke, has dragged the United Bank for Africa (UBA), to court over allegation of corporate bullying.
Adeleke, who is the Managing Director (MD) of Biospheres Technologies Limited is demanding N50 million as damages from the UBA.
Adeleke through his legal counsel, Adam Ugwuanyi, dragged the bank before an FCT High Court sitting in Apo through a writ of summons in suit number CV/1583/2021 dated July 14, 2021 and filed same date.
In a statement on oath, Adeleke said that on the 11th day of March, 2021 he mistakenly transferred the sum of N15, 000 from its Sterling Bank Account 0501531253 to a bank account of one SAIFULLAH MURTALA 21851406542 with the UBA.
Adaleke further averred; “That on the same 11th day of March, 2021, the claimant obtained a court order from District Court 3 Jiwa, Abuja presided over by His Worship: Ebiwari E. D.
“That the said order mandated the defendant (UBA) to reverse the sum of N15, 000 to the claimant’s account number mentioned above.
“That on the 12th day of March, 2021 when it presented the said court order and requested the defendant to comply with same, the defendant outrightly disobeyed the court order with impunity without any legal backing.
“That the defendant verbally informed the claimant that notwithstanding that the bank account complained of had a sufficient amount to pay off the claimant’s sum, that some other people have a lien which preceded that of the claimant with regards to the funds in the above bank account complained against.
“That the defendant did not furnish the claimant with any documentary evidence to substantiate its claim of existing previous claim.”
Adeleke said under oath that when all his pleading could not persuade the UBA (defendant), he had no choice than to employ the services of a lawyer.
The plaintiff also said that on two occasions, letters of plea were written to the bank by his lawyer, appealing to UBA to do the needful by complying with before a court action would be initiated, but all effort fell on the deaf ears”
Adeleke said that worse of it was the fact that he even requested to see from the bank copies of the purported court orders that preceded his but his request was ignored which made him to brief the law firm of A. S. Ugwuanyi & Partners to commence the prosecution of this suit.
He said that N500, 000 was paid as professional fee and a receipt dated March 16, 2021 was issued.
According to him; “That I have suffered much expenses in lodging and fares since I am not a resident of Abuja and had to travel to and from Lagos State since the 11th day of March, 2021 till date, making earnest effort to rectify this problem which the defendant have made impossible.
“That the act of the defendant amounts to corporate bullying which should be seriously deterred for the betterment of the society,” Adeleke averred.
The Court presided over by Justice F.E. Messiri fixed the hearing of the case for February 3, 2022.
