Court Fines Zenith Bank N2m Over Bullion Van Excesses in Ondo

Banking activities was today halted temporarily when the Sheriffs of the Ondo Judicial Division of the Ondo State High Court levied execution of the judgment of the court against the Zenith Bank Plc., located along Yaba road in Ondo west local government are of Ondo State.

The court had on the 27th of April 2023 slammed the bank with a two million naira fine, over the human right abuse of it’s bullion van, after a victim dragged them to court.

The applicant, Mr. Clement Akinjise, in the said suit tagged HOD/135/2022 on 20th October 2022, filed an action before the court, seeking among other things, a declaration of court that his clamp down and the subsequent inhumane treatments meted out on him by Zenith Bank Plc., (sued as the 1st respondent) through her agents, in the course of driving the cash conveyance vehicle (a.k.a. bullion van), amounts to his breach of fundamental human rights as a road user.

Arguing the case, counsel to the applicant, Abiodun Olubusade Esq., leading Omowumi Olabanji Esq., and Atinuke Fadayomi Esq., submitted before the court that the bank does not fall within the class of emergency vehicles as contemplated under the law, hence the right of the applicant began where that of the 1st respondent’s bank stops. Counter argument was preferred.

The court per Hon. Justice (Prof.) Alero Akeredolu in a well-considered judgment delivered on 27th April, 2023 found as follows:

1. A DECLARATION that the clamp down of the Applicant as a road user, and the subsequent restriction of his movements by the 3rd Respondent in the course of his work and protection of the 1st Respondent amounts to the breach of the Applicant’s fundamental human rights to movement and personal liberty.

2. A DECLARATION that in the course of his work, 1st Respondent acting through the 3rd respondent breached the Applicant’s fundamental human rights to movement and personal liberty as a bona fide road user.

3. N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) only as general damages against the 1st and 3rd respondents jointly and severally.

4. N100,000 (One Hundred thousand Naira) only against the 1st and 3rd Respondents jointly and severally as costs.