Former Ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Justina Eze, has dragged First Bank of Nigeria to court over her box of gold, diamond, coral beads
Former Ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Justina Eze, has dragged First Bank of Nigeria to court over her box of gold, diamond, coral beads and other materials allegedly kept in the custody of the bank.
The jewellery box, valued at about N1 billion, was said to have been kept in the vault of the bank’s branch in Enugu for safe keeping, following an agreement between the two parties for a monthly deduction from her account with the bank as charges for the service. Justina, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had purchased the deposit safe box and packaged the collections on the eve of her departure to Cape Verde upon appointment as ambassador in 1999, and moved it to the branch of the bank for safe keeping in company of her daughter.
Justina however started to suspect foul play when she got to the bank one day and requested to retrieve the box but was asked to be given time by the bank’s officials. A formal letter of demand was written to the bank, but no reply was given. A reminder letter was sent to the bank, yet the bank refused to either acknowledge or give a reply. She was then forced to drag the bank to Enugu State High court to explain publicly what has become of her jewelry box worth N1 billion.
