15:T768,

Chaos and uncertainty was the order of the day yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as the local branch of Skye Bank Plc was sealed off for failing to pay the land use charges levied on the bank by the state government.

Following the closure, commercial activities were paralysed at the bank while customers were seen hanging around, looking disappointed as they could not enter the banking hall to withdraw or deposit money.

The closure which was carried out by the Anambra Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC) came on the order of an Awka Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate O.E. Maduka.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the closure, APLUC Head of Human Resource and Administration/Media, Mrs. Chinenye Okafor, said that Skye Bank Plc located along the ever busy Zik’s Avenue, Awka, owes the state government a total of N238,077 for the period covering 2011 and 2012.

Also sealed off for similar reasons was a private firm, Crystal Villa Ltd., operating from No. 6 Ikebube Str. Ifite-Awka. Okafor revealed that Crystal Villa owed the state government a total of N136,166 for the period covering 2011 and 2012.

She stressed that the organisations deliberately ignored the court summons sent to their offices as well as hearing notices, saying that no representative was sent by them during the court trial.

While warning that the state government is now out to seal-off properties of those who default in payment, Okafor disclosed that the state government had so far secured 14 judgments to seal off residential buildings in Awka and two other judgments for buildings in Onitsha.

She disclosed that “very soon, list of defaulters in Nnewi will be prepared and actions will follow,” adding: “We are waiting for 11 judgements on residential buildings in Awka and 15 others in Onitsha.”

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