The Two Suits are filed at ; THE HIGH COURT OF ANAMBRA STATE
IN THE ONITSHA JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN AT ONITSHA . Suit Adj; 24th April, 2024

Ground : Defamation and Fundamental right enforcement ( Separate Suits)

I’m Bonaventure Oluka , Director at Horizons Eagles Ltd

So what actually happened??

Before the briefing , We are into thrift/daily collection (Ajo) . Trust and Reputation is the key in our business

Some time last year , I narrated how Sterling bank through her agent Stormed my place of business in the presence of my customers and alleged that we fraudulently obtained a loan from them . This happened on the 12th of august 2023 at 3pm .

The angry looking policemen who lead this operation left us speechless . They were all looking like they would shoot anyone who says a word. The fear in the eyes of my workers and customers who were around was something I have never seen before

They immediately pounced on my operational manager who happens to be my brother , turned him to a punch bang , before taking him away on handcuffs. They made sure he was beaten till he couldn’t raise an arm . They bundled him into their vehicle and went away .

The only thing they could say was “come with the money you owe to Central police station “
I immediately left for Central police station to actually understand what was going on .

On getting there, they said that the DPO was not around and they can’t listen to me unless I give them the money we owe . I became more confused . I was hearing my brother’s voice from the inside where he was been tortured .

In his voice , “I didn’t take the loan I only recommend my mum “ . The IPO later came out to say the same thing they told my customers, “that we defrauded the bank “ . When I got 5 mins to talk to my brother . I asked him if he obtained a loan in my companies name , but he said no . In fact , he said that he obtained a personal loan from them in the past and paid in full . That he recommended our mother afterwards to the same marketer but he doesn’t know that my mother was yet to offset her loan in full

I asked her if he was a guarantor to the said loan , but he said no . Was the loan in any way obtained for or in the name of my company , but he said no . I asked him of a Nexus between the said Loan and my company , but he said non. He further said that the marketer only knows where he works

They kept my brother for 3 days even when my mother went there to tell them that the loan has got nothing to do with my brother . And that she only defaulted for 2 months after the death of my father . They insisted on keeping my brother while inflicting more injuries on him

My siblings out fear and against my stand sent them ( the bank ) 200k , this was the amount they demanded after keeping him for 3 days

By the time my bother was out , everything had turned around in my company . The news went far and near . That was the beginning of our bottomless downfall , the rest became history . No one ever want to trust a fraudulent company . Everyone believed it , because it came from a commercial bank

I wrote to Sterling bank narrating everything that happened and the impact on my business and my brother’s health conditions . They replied in a vague way (promised to look into it ) after apologizing on call .

I waited to no avail , I moved from anxiety as a result of unending pressure from my misinformed customers to full time depression. I started taking Amitriptyline to fight this disorder . My staffs started resigning out fear of our misinformed customers . The ones that didn’t want to resign were forced to resign by their parents/partners

That was when I remembered the statement made by agent of the bank in the police cell “go to court “ . I demanded for both loan agreement and loan Offer later from the said loan . I figured out that neither my company nor my brother ( my operational manager was indicted ) I started gathering evidences . I got everything I needed, then proceeded to make consultations in both legal and bank sectors .

I realized that everything they did was illegal and would still be illegal even if my brother has taken the said loan , even though he didn’t .

After waiting for 2 more months and they didn’t say anything aside “sorry” , I reached out to my lawyers and demanded that they come up with a legal team.

We worked tirelessly for one more month before establishing a very strong ground for the “Enforcement of fundamental right and Defamation of character “ . We filed today and we hope to see them in court soon .

Nice 1, 👍 keep us informed of the situation as it unfolds

You sure say you fit win sterling bank ?

Why not opt for out of court settlement

EverythingPhone:
You sure say you fit win sterling bank ?

Why not opt for out of court settlement

My father is not the judge lol .

But people will be aware of their evil practices and might end up avoiding their products at the end .

We do give unsecured loans too . We had many defaulters . We never arrested any of them not to talk of going after their relatives .

If a judge validate their action , then we would have a ground to arrest the relatives of all who owe us .

But then , it’s wrong and against the law

EverythingPhone:
You sure say you fit win sterling bank ?

Why not opt for out of court settlement

This isn't a matter of if he can fight the bank but about doing the right thing and in the proper way, a landmark judgement here in his favor will help redress a lot of ills the banking institution in Nigeria perpetrate without being held liable to them

A case like this needs social media coverage, I will advise you liase with credible media organizations. You can begin by visiting the corresponding chapel in your state or better Still, look for a way to reach out to fij.ng or Sahara reporters. We leave in a country that worships money, our judiciary cannot be single out of the corruption menace.

nansng:
A case like this needs social media coverage, I will advise you liase with credible media organizations. You can begin by visiting the corresponding chapel in your state or better Still, look for a way to reach out to fij.ng or Sahara reporters. We leave in a country that worships money, our judiciary cannot be single out of the corruption menace.

I have this in mind . Was thinking of going to their offices instead of contacting them online

concho:

I have this in mind . Was thinking of going to their offices instead of contacting them online

Just look for correspondence chapel, that’s where all media outfits gathered in every states. Is easier to access them from there and may cost less, you know everything in Nigeria is bribe.

nansng:


Just look for correspondence chapel, that’s where all media outfits gathered in every states. Is easier to access them from there and may cost less, you know everything in Nigeria is bribe.

Good morning bro .
I don’t even know what “correspondence chapel “ means . How do I locate one in Lagos state ??