First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is in the news again, this time it was alleged that one of its sick customers who needed money for his hospital bills was denied access to his account and died in the process.
In January, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr Adam Nuru, over alleged unethical conduct.
According to eyewitness report, the sick customer who didn’t have strength to go into the banking hall delegated his son to make the withdrawal.
But it was learnt that FCMB teller attendant instructed the man to get an affidavit before the withdrawal could be effected.
It was gathered that the man begged the FCMB attendant to come out where his ailing father was lying in car, but his plea was not granted.
It was gathered that the owner of the account had been trying for close to a week before he died at the front to the bank on Monday.
From the video, a young lady who identified herself as a family member of the deceased said, “Mr Ogolo Owuso is my brother. He came to the bank on Friday to withdraw money, but they said he should bring a next of kin over an issue I don’t know.
“When he came today (Monday), they said he should go and bring court affidavit and the man told then that he was sick and the courts are not in session, they refused. He died out of frustration,” she said.
Recall that the members of the Judiciary Staff Workers Association of Nigeria are on strike, halting all judiciary activities.
At the time of filing this report, FCMB management was yet to react to what customers have described as ‘frustration and unfriendly treatment’.
One of the eyewitnesses Kelvin Pepple says:
“The sick man inside that car has been trying to collect his money since last week Friday, but the FCMB refused to allow him to withdraw
“FCMB told the man’s son that followed him to the bank to go and bring affidavit from court before he will be paid. That’s what the son was trying to get, only for the son to meet his father dead in the car packed in front of the bank,” he said.
It was gathered that he needed the money to pay his hospital bills.
Reactions trails actions of FCMB Port Harcourt branch as frustrated customer dies
The video which was shared on BBC Pigin has generated hundreds of reactions:
Olubunmi Dada Diya:
I am not surprised! I was in Nigeria for two weeks. I went to GTB, and I was given number 194 to stay outside in the queue! I find it ridiculous that every transaction you go to the bank for takes you hours of standing up in the sun outside the bank or inside. Poor customer service everywhere.
Queen Nwosu-Igoche:
Fcmb is the worst bank in Nigeria today. It should be merged with any of this up coming microfinance bank. They are monumental failure. Recently, I had my own fair share of experience.
Faith Okafor Obeto:
The worst part is that hospitals don’t treat or attend to patients without payment.
Life hv really lost it’s value in this country.
What a shame..
Oduntan Taiwo Adeyinka:
This is so sad to watch we would work for our money and keep it bank to collect it na wahala if the money no enter ledger he go enter pfd abi pdf abi wetin dey call am kilode this is getting too much tbh
Sandra Lewis:
How wish u can have other means of saving money apart from the bank it would have been better,its a pity he ended this way money he worked for yet couldn’t get it to treat himself ,indeed Nigeria is not for us
Amaka Uzowuru Ben:
If you ask them now , them go say na their job them de do by neglecting and frustrating customers on top their own hard earned money.
Very slow and annoying banking system in Nigeria
Nosa Dimaro Idemudia:
All I no God did not creat Nigeria. If u see all d Nigeria embassy in all Europe country u will no dat Nigeria is not a country. Just to renew passport dey will say no booklet. But pay 200euro u will see passport instantly.