By: Emmanuel Nlewedum
Mr. Ogolo Daniel Owuso, banking with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), at Education bustop in Mile One Diobu, Port Harcourt City local government area of Rivers State today slumped and died over the bank’s refusal to attend to him.
Elder sister of the deceased told PhSpectator that Owuso a native of Ilelema, in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers State, died of frustration and unfriendly treatment by the customer service attendants at the bank.
She said the deceased was denied access to his own money since Friday even when he came with his next of kin and (his) first son Damiete Owuso.
According to her, “Mr. Ogolo Daniel Owuso is my brother. He was sick, his son Damiete is the one looking after him, he went to the ATM to withdraw money to take care of his father’s medical bills but they said the ATM had expired.
“Last week Friday, the son went to the bank to withdraw money from his father’s account, after explaining himself and the condition of the father, he was asked to go to the court to get an affidavit knowing too well that the court is not in session following the JUSUN strike. They also said he must come with his sick father.
“Today, being Monday, I called to know how my brother was fairing and if he’s been taken to the hospital but my younger sister told me that my brother’s son went to FCMB bank since morning with his sick dad and that the bank has still refused to attend to them insisting that he must provide the court affidavit before they can attend to him.
“My brother was vomiting in front of this FCMB bank, him and the son were begging the bank people to grant him access to his own money but they refused.
“They were left unattended to for over 6 hours, since morning till this 4:00pm, he just died now few minutes ago.” She said.
Effort to speak with the bank management proved abortive as the security guards refused our reporter access to the bank, stressing that the manager was not around.
Our correspondent reports that the deceased was taken alongside the son, Damiete to the Mile One Police Station by officers who visited the scene.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni was yet to react to the incident at the time of filling this report.
