An industrial Court sitting in Enugu has granted an application brought by Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, (AUPECTRE), Anambra State for garnishee order against the state government over nonpayment of workers’ salaries.
In an application filed before the court, the applicants through their counsel, Mr. Enobong Etteh prayed the panel to freeze the account of the state government in Fidelity Bank pending the determination of the substantive suit in court.
However, in a letter written by the counsel to AUPECTRE, Mr. Etteh to the Manager of Fidelity Bank PLC, Mr. Chukwudi Egbuna, dated May 24, the union drew the attention of the bank to the pending court order that had frozen the account of the state government in the bank over the non-payment of salaries of workers of the state water corporation which he claimed had led to the death of over 200 staff.
“Our application for garnishee order nisi was granted at the Enugu Judicial Division of National Industrial Court. You are hereby informed that this matter has been adjourned for your bank to show cause why the garnishee order nisi should not be made absolute.
“Take note that we have evidence to prove that the balance in the judgment debtor’s account number 5030005882 as at today, May 24, is N1, 849, 892.94 to satisfy the total judgment debt of N1, 863, 137, 452, 76.”
Mr. Etteh further warned that, “tampering with the account in any form whatsoever other than to obey the order of court will amount to disobedience with far-reaching consequences for which we will not hesitate to bring upon you or any officer of the bank the full weight of the law.”
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Source: Sun Newspapers
