There was tension Wednesday in Awka, following sealing off of two commercial Bank in the State by the officials of Anambra State Government over debts.
The two commercial banks are Ecobank Plc and Skye Bank Plc located opposite the Government House in Awka and zik Avenue respectively.
The action was as a result of the banks inability to pay the land use charges levied on them by the state government.
As a result, commercial activities were paralyzed at the banks while customers were disappointed as they could not transact businesses for the day.
The closure which was carried out by the Anambra Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC) followed an order of an Awka Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate. O.E. Maduka.
Following the closure of the Banks Wednesday, the bank workers, customers including one of the traditional ruler in the State, (name withheld) were all stranded.
Addressing reporters shortly after the operation, the Head, Human Resources and Administration/Media, Mrs. Chinenye Okafor, said the banks as well as a residential building owed the state government over Six Hundred Thousand Naira.
Okafor said that the financial institutions deliberately ignored the court summons sent to their offices as well as hearing notices.
Furthermore, APLUC claimed that no representative was sent by the organizations during the court trial.
She said that a total of N226, 047 consisting of property rate, tenement rate, ground rate as well as infrastructural development and maintenance fee were due to Ecobank Plc between 2011 and 2012 for payment.
Also, Skye Bank Plc located along Ziks Avenue, Awka also owed the state government a total of N238, 077 between 2011 and 2012 for the same land use charges.
Okafor further said that the residential building, Crystal Villa ltd., located at No. 6, Ikebube str. Ifite-Awka, owed the state government a total of N136, 166 between 2011 and 2012.
However, the APLUC warned that the state government was now out to seal-off property of those who default in payment.
Okafor further disclosed that the state government had so far secured 14 judgments to seal-off residential buildings in Awka and two other judgments for buildings in Onitsha.
According to her, “Very soon, list of defaulters in Nnewi will be prepared and actions will follow”.
“We are awaiting 11 judgments on residential buildings in Awka and 15 others in Onitsha,” she told reporters.
