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Anti-Jumat Order: MURIC demands apology from Polaris Bank

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2022

Polaris Bank

Islamic rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has kicked against alleged instruction by a Polaris Bank senior official stopping a Muslim staff from attending Jumat prayer.

Following this, the group has demanded an aunreserved apology from the bank management within seven days, failing which Muslim customers may start boycotting it.

MURIC’s demand is contained in a press statement circulated among journalists Friday, by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads in part: “A senior official of Polaris Bank, Damilola Adebara, last week addressed a mail to Muslim staff of the bank in which she instructed them that they should not attend Jumu‘ah service. It is instructive to add that she added a threat ‘any infraction of this directive would be dealt with accordingly’. She did this through an email sent on Tuesday, 11^th October, 2022 at exactly 12.10 pm.

“MURIC strongly condemns this strong-arm tactic aimed at Christianising the bank’s policies and de-Islamising Muslim staff of Polaris Bank. It is unethical, unprofessional and intolerant.

“Besides, it is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional for any employer or his or her agents to impose measures, take actions or introduce policies capable of undermining Allah-given fundamental human rights of any citizen of Nigeria no matter his or her faith or ethnicity.

Professor Ishaq Akintola

“Damilola Adebara’s mail is a flagrant contravention of Section 38 (i)&ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says, ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance’

“The leaked mail was greeted with outrage, bewilderment and nausea among Nigerian Muslims. Unfortunately the bank’s response to the concern of Muslims was not good enough. It was mild, vague, escapist and deceitful. Polaris Bank had said, ‘The said staff had acted in ignorance and we have since addressed the issue internally’.

“This is a very poor response. It lacked human face, human sympathy, colour and concern. It did not show that the bank has control over its erring staff. The bank responded as if Damilola Adebara is a sacred cow and an untouchable demigod.

“The bank had already found an excuse for a woman who made millions of Nigerian Muslims lose appetite overnight and sent them to the abyss of psychological trauma through her uncouth behaviour, intolerance and exhibition of tramadolised religiousity.

“We wonder why the bank is now the one telling us that the ‘said staff had acted in ignorance’. What ‘ignorance’? Is Polaris Bank aware that it has indicted itself by blaming it all on ‘ignorance’? Who should take the blame if your employee is an ignoramus? Did you train her at all? What happened to post-employment training and retraining?

“What exactly did the bank management do apart from finding excuse for her? What disciplinary measure has the bank taken? Or is it over just like that? This is how matters are swept under the carpet in Nigeria. What of the Muslim staff barred from attending Jumu‘ah mosque last week by ‘Her Majesty’, Damilola Adebara, the ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’, the one whose word is law in Polaris Bank?

“How does she and the bank assuage the unprovoked assault on their spiritual wellbeing? How does the bank mitigate the fear of Nigerian Muslims that they and their brethren cannot expect fair play, justice and equity in the hands of Polaris Bank?

“All that the bank has told Nigerians is that ‘we have since addressed the issue internally’. How? When? What was done to address the issue? What was done to instil discipline? What was done to ensure that no Muslim staff is so harassed in future? This is no longer a private matter. It is between Polaris Bank and the Nigerian Muslim Community. We demand transparency. Injury to one is injury to all.

“We are fully aware that this has also been happening in other banks and we have started collating reports around the country. We advise banks to review their policies towards their Muslim staff particularly on this sensitive Friday Question.

“Why is it so difficult for any bank to give its Muslim staff just two hours to go to the mosque on Friday when Christian staff have the whole day on Sunday to satisfy their spiritual yearning? Here comes the Friday Question once again. This issue will remain knotty until Friday is officially declared a work-free day. But in the meantime, we must take such measures capable of sending a strong message to Nigerian banks.

“First and foremost, we demand apology from Polaris Bank. Nigerian Muslims deserve that courtesy, that respect. That apology should be tendered within seven days from today, Friday, 14^th October, 2022 failing which Muslim customers may start boycotting the bank. Nigerian Muslims deserve dignified treatment as homo sapiens compos mentis.

Secondly, the first offender, Damilola Adebara, must go on a few days’ suspension. There must be consequences for unprofessional behaviour. On her return from suspension, she must withdraw the memo sent to all Muslim staff. She must also send copies of the withdrawal mail to her Christian staff and Polaris Bank management exactly as she copied them the offensive email ab initio.

“Polaris Bank should not try to test our will. Whoever thinks Nigerian Muslims cannot mobilise themselves for unified action nationwide is living in delusion. This is the age of resistance against all forms of religious apartheid targeted at Nigerian Muslims. Without firing a single shot, we are determined to teach our traducers lessons in religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence using peaceful and civil liberty gimmicks”

Eagle

Related Topics:Anti-Jumat Order Featured MURIC Polaris Bank

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CBN fines any bank N150m hoarding cash

Published

10 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

CBN fines any bank N150m hoarding cash

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a N150 million fine on a commercial bank for failing to dispense cash through its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

This action follows an unannounced inspection by the apex bank, which uncovered deliberate cash hoarding and ATM manipulation by the erring bank.

Sources within the CBN revealed that the sanctioned bank was caught disabling its ATMs, thereby denying customers access to their funds while prioritizing cash disbursements to select VIP clients.

A staff member of the CBN stressed that the apex bank would not tolerate such practices. “The Bank will not spare any Deposit Money Bank (DMB) caught in the act of hoarding cash or found favoring VIP customers over other customers,” the official stated.

To this end, the CBN has intensified spot checks on banks nationwide, exposing various illicit cash-handling practices by some unscrupulous financial institutions.

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For now, the CBN is imposing financial penalties on defaulting banks. However, according to the official, the next phase of enforcement will include publicly naming and shaming offending banks and prosecuting implicated bank officials.

“This fine is just the beginning. The CBN is determined to hold banks accountable for any actions that undermine public trust and the integrity of the banking system,” the official added.

Despite the ongoing challenges, the CBN has reiterated its commitment to promoting cashless banking in the country. Another senior official disclosed that the apex bank’s management is intensifying efforts to encourage the use of electronic channels for transactions.

“The frustration faced by account holders is undermining our push for a cashless economy. We are doubling down on initiatives to restore public confidence in electronic banking solutions,” the official said.

CBN fines any bank N150m hoarding cash

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Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

Published

27 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ,UDHR, Article 25(1), everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, which includes access to food, clothing, and housing.

Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ,ICESCR, Article 11 emphasizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food.

Furthermore, the Covenant recognizes the fundamental right to be free from hunger and advocates for measures both individual and international to eliminate hunger.

It is widely acknowledged that inadequate food availability can lead to health issues, as food is as essential to health as air is to breathing.

The situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of healthcare, which are increasingly out of reach for many due to ongoing inflation.

Difficult situations

In Nigeria, harsh economic conditions are forcing households into difficult situations, with many going to bed hungry due to skyrocketing food prices. With Christmas just three days away, our correspondents visited local food markets in Lagos and Abuja to see how citizens are coping with the rising cost of goods and services.

In the locations, buyers and sellers expressed their frustrations over the increasing prices of food items.

At Agric Market in Ikorodu, Mummy Somto, lamented that she had never witnessed such high prices in her lifetime.

She noted that a chicken that cost N15,000 last year now sells for N35,000, with only older layers available for N15,000.

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“What will that do for my family? We have never seen it like this in Nigeria. I hope this hope is the hope,” she said.

At Mile 12 International Market, trucks filled with perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables were lined up for unloading while eager buyers waited nearby.

When asked about the high prices despite the abundance of food, truck owner Alhaji Shehu, explained that the situation arose from expenses related to diesel, farm security, police and military checkpoints before reaching Lagos.

He mentioned spending between N500,000 and N800,000 per truck, which inevitably raises prices.
“This is our business, and we are not pleased with the high costs either. If I sell my goods, I still need to buy what I don’t sell. It’s suffocating us. I also commend the buyers,” Shehu added.

Bags of rice

Mrs. Bukky Osagie, a rice vendor at Mike 12, shared her concerns about escalating prices: “Last December, a bag of rice was between N65,000 and N70,000. Today, it’s from N95,000 depending on the brand. Traders are exhausted. People are buying half bags because they can’t afford full ones. They also need to buy additional items. How do people survive this trend? This has to stop if the government truly cares for its citizens.”

At Daleko Market, Mrs. Hannah, was seen pricing vegetable oil when she declared, “Whether the devil likes it or not, we will celebrate with our families and share love during this season. We will just have to adjust our spending according to our means.”

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As of the time of filing this report, a 25-liter container of vegetable oil was selling for between N86,000 and N95,000 depending on the brand.

Garri was priced at N56,000, while Ijebu Gaari was N58,000.

A carton of satchel tomatoes ranged from N8,800 to N9,200 while a pack of spaghetti cost N23,000.
70 grams of noodles were priced between N9,800 and N10,500. A roll of curry or thyme sold for N550 each, while small bulbs of onion reached as high as N200, making them almost unaffordable for many.

Christmas cheer

In Abuja, soaring food prices and steep transportation costs are casting a shadow over Christmas celebrations for many families.

The cost of essential holiday items, such as poultry, has surged, with chickens priced between ¦ 15,000 and ¦ 25,000, and turkeys reaching up to ¦ 130,000 in some markets.

Sunday Vanguard learned that rising feed prices, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions are driving these increases.

Additionally, a 50-kg bag of rice now costs between ¦ 94,000 and ¦ 125,000, a significant leap from previous months.

Transportation fares have also skyrocketed, with transport fare from Abuja to major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu increasing from 15 percent to 35 percent in the past month.

For instance, a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road, which previously cost ¦ 28,000–¦ 35,000, now ranges between ¦ 46,500 and ¦ 60,000.

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

VANGUARD

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Three Ogun varsity students die auto crash

Published

46 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Ogun State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola

Three Ogun varsity students die auto crash

The Police Command in Ogun State has confirmed the death of three university students in a single-vehicle accident on the Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye Road.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, revealed that the victims were suspected to be students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, involved an Opel car with registration number AAA-126 HE. The vehicle was reportedly driven by Adekunle Adebiyi, a resident of 5 Sunmibare Street, Awa Ijebu.

“The accident was caused by overspeeding, leading to the driver losing control and the vehicle flipping into the bush,” Odutola explained.

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She further disclosed that one male passenger, whose identity is yet to be confirmed but is believed to be an OOU student, died on the spot. His body was taken to the mortuary at General Hospital, Ijebu Ode.

“Two female students from Olabisi Onabanjo University — Dada Oluwanifesimi, 18, and Miracle Daniel, 19 — were rushed to Love and Care Hospital but sadly passed away while receiving treatment,” she added.

The vehicle involved in the crash has been recovered and is now in police custody.

Odutola assured the public that further updates on the tragic incident would be provided and advised motorists to adhere to traffic regulations, particularly during the festive season.