The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has fixed March 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial in a suit between Oluseyi Owolabi and TAJ Bank Limited over allegations of bribery.
The presiding judge, Justice Essien, adjourned the case following an application by the defendant for an extension of time to file its defense.
Counsel for the claimant, A.I. Obinyan, did not oppose the defendant’s request, which was presented by its counsel, Z. Folami.
Justice Essien granted the application and ordered both parties to file all necessary processes before the adjourned date.
The claimant, Oluseyi Owolabi, who previously served as the Head of Agribusiness at TAJ Bank, accused the bank of falsely alleging that he solicited bribes from customers to expedite credit facility approvals.
Owolabi claimed that during his tenure, he introduced numerous customers to the bank, many of whom secured substantial credit facilities.
In his response to the defendant’s statement filed on November 11, 2024, Owolabi denied the allegations, describing them as malicious and baseless.
He asserted that the accusations of conflict of interest lacked merit and that he followed all standard procedures for identifying and processing viable agricultural transactions.
Owolabi alleged that the bank’s management used him as a scapegoat instead of conducting a thorough review of the transactions in question. He claimed that the account officers and facility-approving officers responsible for the transactions were spared accountability.
He further detailed instances of alleged mistreatment by the bank’s management, including emotional abuse and threats. Owolabi recounted an incident in August 2023, during which the bank’s Managing Director forced him to attend an online meeting while he was on vacation caring for his bedridden father. He described the experience as mentally tortuous.
Owolabi also highlighted his efforts to prevent financial losses for the bank, stating that he and a colleague, Uchechukwu Mbamah, used personal resources to recover funds from a customer, Mama Benz Limited, in Kaduna.
The claimant accused the bank of nepotism and conspiring to make him a scapegoat. He emphasized that during his tenure, the bank onboarded several notable agribusiness clients, which resulted in significant income and profits for the institution.
Owolabi urged the court to grant the reliefs he sought in the interest of justice and fairness, arguing that the defendant’s statement of defense offered no substantial rebuttal to his claims.
The case is set to proceed on March 19, 2025, with both parties expected to present their arguments.