Three legal practitioners have initiated legal proceedings against Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. (GTBank), alleging harassment, false imprisonment, and unlawful detention at the bank’s Adeniyi Jones Avenue branch in Ikeja, Lagos.
The legal practitioners, Mr. Matthew E. Ero, Mrs. Jennifer E. Matthew-Ero, and Mr. Orobosa Obabueki, all partners at Graceville Chambers, claim they were unjustly detained by bank staff when they visited the branch on January 30, 2025, to inquire about unauthorized deductions from Mr. Ero’s account.
According to a letter addressed to the Managing Director of GTBank by their legal representatives, Kunle Adegoke & Co., the incident began when Mr. Ero received a credit alert on his phone and noticed a shortfall of ₦574 in the credited amount. Seeking clarification, he and his colleagues visited the bank’s customer service desk, where he was met with an unhelpful response from the attending officer.
The letter details that after expressing dissatisfaction with the explanation provided, Mr. Ero began recording the conversation for transparency. This action allegedly prompted the bank’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) to intervene and demand that he delete the recording. When Mr. Ero refused, the bank’s security system was activated to prevent his exit, effectively detaining him and his colleagues within the premises for over two hours.
It was only after the arrival of a police team from Man Center Police Station, Wemabod Estate, Ikeja, that the trio was released. The officers reportedly ordered the bank’s officials to unlock the security doors, expressing disapproval of the detention.
As a result of the ordeal, the affected lawyers were unable to pick up their children from school on time and suffered emotional distress.
In the letter, the legal practitioners have demanded a formal apology from GTBank and compensation of ₦20 million each for the alleged infringement of their rights. They have also given the bank 14 days to comply with their demands, failing which they intend to seek legal redress in court, including a public apology published in Punch and ThisDay newspapers.
GTBank has yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of this report.
