The Nigerian Communications Commission on Wednesday closed down the New Ring Road branch of First Bank in Ibadan over alleged illegal use of Internet services.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, also, the bank branch manager, whose identity was not immediately known, was arrested by the NCC enforcement team for allegedly resisting the action.

NCC Head of Enforcement team, Mr. Efosa Idehen told journalists in Ibadan after the operation that the bank was still using its frequency without approval in spite of several warnings.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that business activities at the branch were paralysed as scores of customers were not allowed into the banking hall.

“Most of the banks remain adamant after several warnings issued to them on the illegal use of the frequency since April, 2011.’’

He said that the (5. 40GHz- 5. 75GHz) frequency band is for data transmission.

Idehen said that closure of the bank’s operations was “a test of the law”, adding that the bank branch manager obstructed the enforcement team’s operation for over an hour.

“We have done it in Lagos and this is the first time it is happening in other South-West states,’’ he said.

Seal Up of FirstBank Branch, Ibadan

The Management of FirstBank hereby wish to say that the cause of the recent lock down of our New Ring road branch in Ibadan is being investigated and we have engaged with the providers of the said disputed equipment and actions are currently being taken to get to the root of the issue and arrive at a possible and quick resolution. FirstBank would not willingly engage in activity that runs foul of the law or deliberately shy away from its corporate responsibility. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this might have caused and encourage them to use our other branches near them or avail themselves of our multiple banking channels provided for their conveniences.

ariy: use illegal frequency is difference form illegal internet use.

NCC: Legal Guidelines Deployment Broadband Service Guidlines stated

(c) The 5.47 – 5.725 GHz band shall be licensable, while the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.725 –
5.875GHz bands shall be license exempt

Okiki_Oluwa: C wetin awuf (ìfà) has caused. If guilty, dat Bank Mgr don lose hm job.

amaba: Shameless bank. They are mostly good at fleecing customers. Thiefs..

demmy: This story makes no sense of course as always with Nigerian news report. The bank must have leased the dedicated line/bandwidth from a telecom company who must have been licensed by NCC. If the bank decide to also use the Internet on their leased bandwidth, what concern NCC?

cecegorz: This move is as daft as Nigerian Commissions can get.
You went and arrested a product Consumer instead of the ISP that provided the bandwidth? Does the bank manager know anything about frequency?

Very soon police will start arresting people eating bread at home, leaving out the bakeries, because the bread doesn't have the right quantity of GEJ's cassava content. Absolute Stupidity!

demmy: This story makes no sense of course as always with Nigerian news report. The bank must have leased the dedicated line/bandwidth from a telecom company who must have been licensed by NCC. If the bank decide to also use the Internet on their leased bandwidth, what concern NCC?

demmy: This story makes no sense of course as always with Nigerian news report. The bank must have leased the dedicated line/bandwidth from a telecom company who must have been licensed by NCC. If the bank decide to also use the Internet on their leased bandwidth, what concern NCC?