₦airaland Forum

BRIEFING ON MY SOJOURN WITH ZENITHBANK PLC AND WHY I AM DEMANDING FOR COMPENSATION TO THE TUNE OF 324.6M NIGERIAN NAIRA

Dear Sir,
I solemnly swear to God Almighty and the gods of our ancestors that the contents of this briefing are true. I was born on December 25, 1981 as the only son in a polygamous home to a seventy year old man mamed Oja’Ejingbe”Onitsha of Igo Aduwo Qtrs, Ilutitun Osooro. Oja is a son of Ifatunmise. I was christened Abiodun Olukayode Ifatunmise.
I was baptized in The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and named Matthew.
I studied Biochemistry in my first degree at UNAD, now EKSU. Although I did not make a first class, I usually come first in my class, through, from cradle…
I joined Zenith International Bank Ltd on January 12, 2006 as an executive assistant (EA) and I was given an offer letter dated January 5, 2006 to sign(copy attached). Before I signed however, the lady who brought the letter to me looked at me and asked me whether I have thought about it…I was coming from a background where the hope making our family name relevant lies partly on me. I signed the offer letter.
After my orientation, I was posted to Akure Branch as a teller, young, maverick and naïve.
We did an initial public offer that was oversubscribed and Zenith Bank became a PLC.
On teller point we do have genuine shortages at times. We process millions of naira daily and sometimes in cocoa seasons peaks we process up to a billion naira cash, daily!
While we were informed that the bank’s policy was to declare shortages if any, at the close of work the day they happen, we usually don’t do. Reason as it was handed over to us was that the bank will sacrifice the teller.
So we protected our colleagues.
We were well motivated. We worked as one big family. So if we have shortages in cash processing, we usually look for it by recounting and checking our analyses. In approximately 70% of the cases we usually found the clues. However, if we search and we don’t see the shortage, we will contribute from our purses.
From teller point, at about 12 months in the system, I was posted to PPMC cash centre at Ore to supervise the centre.
About six months later I was posted back to Akure as the cash officer of Akure Main branch. This should be late 2007.
As cash officer, I supervised all the cash and tellering activities in the branch. I also supervise cash and tellering activities at cash centres in AAUA, Akungba Akoko and PPMC, Ore. I supervised ATMs and led a team of not less than 25 individuals, with fairness and empathy. My image began to tower in the branch. I was very popular because I was kind to junior staff members. I was adjudged man of the branch 2008.
I never knew I was attracting fierce envy and enmity.
Towards the end of May 2008, I remember the day was very close to democracy day, one of my tellers Tolulope Amodu had a shortage of 400,000NGN. Recall shortages did happen and we managed them. In this case we were very hopeful that the shortage would be found. I informed my direct report (Head of Operations) and we informed our branch manager then, who was an assistant general manager (AGM). We agreed to continue searching for it. I handled my bit with great courage and my leadership was with great attitude.
I believed Tolu shouldn’t be sacrificed. Tolu Amodu hails from a town near Ilorin, Kwara State.
So, I went in and I recalled in my subconscious a teller(name withheld) exchanged a 1000NGN bundle for 200NGN and take it to ATM to load...It clicked, that was the difference we were looking for.
Lo and behold as I stood up to go to my supervisor’s office so that we can do cash count and reconcile the ATMs GL accounts, I was blocked at the door by the resident auditor then, and he stretched a memo to me ”Concealment of 400,000NGN Shortage-Query”.
I was taken aback. I felt betrayed. I felt very sad. Who reported to the auditor without carrying me along? So these people didn’t see I was trying to protect someone? Of course, he was my most efficient hand.
The teller was given query as well as we his supervisors. We all answered our queries. Of course there was no concealment anywhere. The shortage was declared by posting it into cash shortage account a week after. It is a loss to the bank; exactly what I was trying to protect the bank against.
A few weeks later a disciplinary panel was set up:
Members:
Olatunde Akande(Kwara State)
Morounke Ilori(Member and head of operations)
Aishat Jeleel-Ojuade(Kwara State)
To investigate the circumstance surrounding the alleged shortage of 400,000NGN booked by Tolulope Amodu( from Kwara State), who was a teller under me. And whereas, I report to Morounke Ilori who was supposed to be a member of the same disciplinary committee she is facing!
The venue was the office of the office of the branch manager, then an assistant general manager Abiodun Adekoya Oshode.
Before they called us in they held some meetings. Being inquisitive, I went to meet the AGM and asked for guidance and he advised that we should go a meet and harmonize our positions on the matter. I was not comfortable because everyone that was to face the panel appeared too relaxed for my liking, except me. I was jittery.
I went to Morounke and told her what the AGM said but she dismissed me that there was nothing to harmonise. In her words; everyone should go in and say what he or she knows.
So I went in and said what I knew. The exact truth.
After the panel however, to my surprise, the AGM called me and started lambasting me that I did not do well at all with the panelists.
I didn’t take it to heart. I continued to discharge my duties to the best of my abilities
One evening, on November 18, 2008, the AGM called me to his office and handed me a memo. I was asked to acknowledge by signing. The content was that I have been placed on one month’s suspension.
It was highly depressing that I was the first to be suspended. It was deeply saddening…I was only trying to help. The order of suspension did not add up; I was not the teller that had shortage, neither was I the head of operations.
It was deeply depressing…I didn’t know my psychological state. I set on a journey to Lagos on November 20, 2008 and I had a terrible lone accident.(see the attached picture).
Others were later suspended like I was, however they were not allowed to drive home by themselves. I have been made a scape goat.
I was admitted to the accident and emergency section at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife. I was later transferred to orthopedic ward where ORIF was performed on my left thigh where I had a fracture. However, when I became conscious enough, I started feeling unimaginable pains in my leg (lower limb). I complained no one listened to me. A few weeks later I noticed the leg stopped responding to stimulus. At that point the consultant orthopedic surgeon then, Professor I C Ikem recommended a Doppler Test, and I was placed on anticoagulants. Of course the artery supplying blood to the leg must have been severed during the surgery (no one knows exactly, though).
A few weeks later the leg went gangrenous and dried off. The leg was eventually amputated to save my life; at Ile-Ife.
About 7 months later, I procured prosthesis and I resumed back to duty; reassigned to fund transfer unit.
I had paid the bride price of my betrothed virgin then before the accident, we were supposed to seal our wedding on December 28, 2008. Her name was Wuraola.
She and my mom moved in with me at Akure. I gave her a separate room from mine as she has reassigned from head office of FCMB (legal department) to CSU, FCMB, Akure. She was a lawyer.
I settled to my new job in FT unit. I have never experienced that kind of hostility in my life. To my surprise, all that happened in office(Zenith), my wife in FCMB will tell me the following day. Every day when I resume they sing songs of derision to me. They call me all sorts of names. Everyday day mock me. They left loads of works for me and stroll around.
Then suddenly my wife became hostile to me at home too. She packed her loads one even and left me for my mum and my family…
Then one day, I discovered something that saddened me the more: the general ledgers of our ATMs were not being reconciled! For over ten months, even years, they left it untouched even though the unit was overstaffed.
The branch made a profit of 256M per month at the peak of my tenure as cash officer. The branch like every other bank’s branch was prosperous during Agagu’s regime.
I wept every night. There was no one to console me at home; no one to confide in at work. I resorted to alcohol.
I married my job. I sat down with the general ledgers and started reconciling. When it is 5pm they will pick their bags and close. I will stay at work till sometimes 11pm. Upon reconciling the ATM GLs we discovered an overage of about 2.1M. Supposing we deduct the 400, 000NGN we will still be left with excess of 1.7M. This made me sad further that money was not missing in the first place.
These people kept the same hostile stance. There was a time I told Oshode to reassign me to Ado-Ekiti branch; he sat me down and explained to me that these people are everywhere!
A few years later I was promoted to assistant banking officer (ABO). I was supposed to be penciled down for operation head, despite my experience, however to my surprise, I was reassigned to marketing.
At marketing despite my physical challenge, I was efficient. I grew my balance and became the most efficient marketing staff in the branch. I kept my faith. They kept the same attitude towards me.
In marketing, I was promoted BO and later assistant manager (AM).
Oshode retired and ‘Tunde Akande was posted to Akure as branch manager ( cum group head). They kept the same attitude towards me. One day Tunde called during an incident involving me and General Ojajuni(rtd). He said the envy is too much! He saw the hostility, I guess.
In 2009, after Wuraola left, I married my caring school friend and lover, Olufunmilola. We had three daughters and a son.
As we grow in the system, I became adapted to their style; they became posted to different branches I remained in Akure, growing my customers’ base.
In 2020, my daughter became sick. She was going in and out of hospital. All the diagnosis we ran did not reveal any ailment. She vomited and defecated profusely. She became pale. Then the doctor called the mother in one day and advised her to route the ailment through alternative therapy. He assured her she will be helped to secure her refunds since my daughter’s medical is covered in my entitlements. My wife being a woman of wisdom knew the nature of the pressure of my job. She innocently hid the process from me and took my daughter to spiritual healing home(s).
So my wife ran from places to places seeking alternatives,(). My daughter got healed at last.
This annoyed Zenith Bank. It annoyed Zenith Bank that my daughter got healed at the cost of 78,000NGN. I did not exceed my in medical expenses; their argument was that I accessed medical healing for my daughter outside the hospital prescribed for me. The claimed falsely that I was the one who collected the funds back through my wife. They cooked up a story and sent me an excel sheet containing the money sent to one “Oluwalowo”
I swore to God almighty that I never collected any medical refund, but they refused to hear me out. Following the same pattern, they handed me another suspension in November 2020.
[ To be continued]
I

wouldn’t like to disclose the taunting they subjected me to before the suspension… Of course they have sacked others in the neighbouring branches. Dr Tope Fasoranti( the surpervising ED then, confided in me that I was to be sacked. It was disheartening that the organization that I have put in so much planned to sack me. In the mist of these, I was diagnosed with depression (see medical records).
My monthly contribution to the branch’s profit swivels around 10M and my gross pay monthly was around 800,000.00NGN as an assistant manager. They denied me of my pay despite working. I worked round the clock as a marketer. I followed up with prospects and customers even at odd hours ( an example was the issue that led to my altercation with General Ojajuni).
I worked my ass out in 2020. In fact, I was going to work with wounds on my prosthetic leg between June 2020 and the time I was dismissed on 2021, May 21. The pain of the wound was equivalent to walking barefooted on nails. The analgesics I used were heavy (like tramadol and dioycodeine)
What were the events that led to my dismissal?
Since my salary for November 2020 was denied me due to the unjustifiable suspension, I became indebted (I ran a large family). My hope of paying back this debt was my bonus for 2020 which I have estimated should not be less than 3M going by the contributions I made to the bank.
However, when it was April 2021, the entire bank was paid their bonuses leaving the staff of Akure Branch, except the marketing manager(Modupe Abodunde) who was paid 420,000NGN or thereabout.
Why didn’t the bank pay my bonus for 2020? I asked. I was made to know that the bank had settled Ondo State Government out of court with 300Million naira.
What happened? Between the date Dr Olusegun Agagu left government in 2009 February(on that date I was on hospital bed at Ile-Ife), three individuals, Modupe Abodunde, Alade Oluseye and Abiodun Oshode(AGM) kept 4.3Billion NGN Ondo State fund in secret accounts. They were reporting it as bank’s deposit. They were getting bonuses and promotion based on the deposit. None of these three hails from Ondo State.
Intriguing is the fact that, the only woman among them, Modupe was the only one paid a bonus of 420,000NGN in the entire branch( at least to the best of my knowledge). While Modupe was the marketing manager as at 2020, the rest have left the bank.
This denial of my bonus, coupled with my condition, all the treatment meted out for me and all I have been through made me took the decision-I wrote a mail, copying the chairman of board, Mr Jim Ovia, CON and all my line reports of my resignation…stating after expressing my gratitude:
“I was 16 years old when I took my first job at De-Mays Nursery and Primary School, Ori-Okuta, Ikorodu, Lagos. Anytime I am given an assignment in my place of work, I usually do it to the best of my ability.... Now therefore I wish to go back to school, I wish to read and write, I wish to plant trees and rear animals…a little is enough for me”
I requested for a little help to start a new life; to live my life more simply. I wish to start all over again.
To my surprise, however, my resignation was not accepted. Instead, they sent envoys to come and see me at home…
So, I put the matter behind me and resumed my duties. Mr Tunde Akande asked my along the doorway one afternoon, that what are my thoughts and I confided in him that my wife is mounting pressure on me not to resign through my family... I have yielded to her… He didn’t make any comment.
During a transaction brainstorm during this period I heard John Olusanmi said to me that “we know your antecedents in operation” The statement touched me and I made a report to the marketing manager Mrs Modupe Abodunde. John did not tell me who the “we” are neither did tell me “my antecedents”.
However, on 21/05/21 our salary was paid(Net Pay)…Mr Tunde called me into his office and told his secretary to print out a document. When Mr Tobi (the secretary) printed the letter of retirement out for me to fill, Mr Tunde stood up, parted me at the back and urged me on to fill the blank spaces. Cowering, I filled the document (copy attached). He promised me I will be handsomely paid off that weekend.
I believed. I signed.
Usually, when they prepare such letter for you to sign, they would have shown you your end of service benefits. For a physically challenged person that I am, knowing my story and all I went through in the hands of these people, I believed Mr Tunde was helping me. I asked when will I get my EOS alert , he assured me that weekend, again.
I believed. (Mind my use of tense, please).
He collected my staff ID card and log in token device.
Over the weekend, I kept checking my phone for the “handsome payoff” to no avail then; weeks went by. I kept my mind at peace. As weeks turned to months I became worried. So these people actually set me up?! Modupe told me they were expecting me to run mad.
I visited the branch one day when my children were hungry and there was no food in the house for them to eat and Modupe Abodunde called me to her office and asked if I see the mail they sent about me defaulting on my credit card. I was surprised. Nobody cares about what I have been through, what I was doing to feed my family since I was technically dismissed without pay. How do I settle my credit card?
Nobody cared.
Since I had a car, I started taxi. I joined NURTW and paid the dues and I started plying Ado- Akure road. I swallowed hard as a dismissed physically challenged man with family to feed…
From assistant manager to taxi driver…
I became worried as the third ended and I was not still paid as promised. I met Dele Kuboye and Banjo Ayenakin who advised me to write Mr Jim Ovia, CON. My friends closer to him said he is a compassionate person. I took a picture of my leg and persuaded him to kindly pay me 30million naira to start a new life…(copy attached). I couriered the letter and the picture through DHL (receipt attached).
I confided in Dr Tope that I owed up to 6Million. However, Dele Kuboye had earlier told me the will pay me a paltry sum since I do not have an agreement with them. He bared his mind to me and advised me to demand what I guess was due to me. I persuaded the chairman to kindly has compassion in the letter I wrote.
However, on 03/08/2021, 5.4M was credited to my virtual account. Now after serving for 16years I can now leave with a debt of 400,000.00NGN, physically challenged and mentally depressed.
As if that was not enough, my current account-10200048566 was thrown into a debit of 2million naira, being mastercard credit card setoff.
So they didn’t deduct my debts before paying me less that the amount I told them I owed?
Before taking the bank to National Industrial Court, Akure, I wrote a letter demanding for the balance of 24.6M and they replied me via my lawyer then Mr Dele Kuboye.( copy attached)
I eventually sued Zenith Bank Plc via NICN, Akure via my lawyer then, Mr Abiodun Fasakin. This coincides with the time he was pursuing his senatorial ambition, he gave the drafting to a junior lawyer to manage. He charged me a bill of 600,000NGN and I paid in part.
I constituted another legal team. Mr Banjo took over and looked at the case. He sent Deolu Ajayi Esq to represent me at the NICN and in his legal wisdom withdrew the case from NICN to go for ADR, sought the judge’s consent, and the court so granted it.
At the ADR we sought the option mediation; they refused to make an appearance citing the fact that I have withdrawn the case from ADR. I visited ADR and they advised me to get my lawyer to obtained they court proceeding at NICN. I went back to my lawyer and he refused to grant me audience. He refused to pick my calls or respond to my chats.
Then I called for security reports, as an extreme right hand son of the Lumure Ruling House of Osooro, the report came back very vivid “ this lawyer cannot prosecute this case…while he is going to help me with many cases in the future he cannot prosecute this people.”
We are not at ADR, Akure. The ADR wrote another summon and they refused to receive the summon…It’s complicated. Isn’t it?
Meanwhile, I joined Globus Bank as the pioneer branch head and group head designate on 13/09/2021. I was frustrated by the same set of people. Security and health report advised I should resign…I did effective April 30, 2022.
I seek to resolve my case with Zenith amicably. E get why…
[to be continued]

One day while I was stranded at a bus stop...I could fuel my vehicle, Engineer Chukwuma Ejimofor picked me and informed me while we were driving home that Madam Modupe Abodunde came to him and asked him to write a damning report against me, that the bank have been looking for ways to sack me. He advised me to relax and follow through.

My current account with the bank is being charged interest every month and I was reported to be owing the bank. My attempt to get credit to start business were turned down by lenders citing my bad credit report. I wish to resolve this out of court.

I wish to reach out to the bank's conscience and compassion

[to be continued]

I repeat..

I wish to reach out to the bank's conscience and compassion

[to be continued]

I suspect a complicated grudge against me. I wish to know the exact issues. Although Modupe had resigned her appointment, I wish to know her true part of the story. It will help me to heal. I wish to hear what these people hold against me.

I wish John could explain why they derided me so much. I wish to heal.

I wish Tunde can let me know why he sacked me. I wish to hear the truth.

I wish to reach out to the bank's conscience and compassion

They came to court saying I resigned my appointment.

[to be continued]

You have gone through a lot. But I am not sure of the purpose of this thread.

Surprisingly some of these names seem familiar so I am not sure it is fabricated.

Hope you do not have Persecution Complex i.e. "the world is against me for so-s0...."

All the best

Hmmmm. I don't think so.

Thanks

Bro, justice is not in our nation. I will advise to call on God for Help and justice. Push if you can get a new start. Heaven will raise to your help

ogunbiyi:
Bro, justice is not in our nation. I will advise to call on God for Help and justice. Push if you can get a new start. Heaven will raise to your help

Amen