More customers are closing their accounts with Access Bank Plc following the example and call of an Abuja-based rights group angered by the bank’s insensitivity in sacking hundreds of workers only to use the money thus saved to host a foreign musician.

The campaign to boycott Access Bank over the issue was launched exactly a week ago by the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), whose National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said last week Friday:

“Today we served Access Bank notice that we will on Monday severe all business relationship with them by closing down our accounts. As a struggling NGO we have very insignificant transactions with Access Bank but we appeal to good spirited Nigerians to pull out their savings because of the inhumane action of sacking 200 staff and at the same time coughing out N200 million to hire foreign musician recently.”

HURIWA’s call was promptly backed by Change Movement Nigeria, whose founder, Mr. Olu Adegoke, said: “In solidarity with the sacked 200 staff of Access Bank, I am calling on all my friends to close down their accounts with Access Bank. Let us stand with HURIWA on this cause. Enough of taking bull shit from these corporate robbers. It is wicked to sack 200 workers only to spend 200 million to host a musician.”

Checks by News Express showed that a growing number of people responding positively to the boycott call. Below are some of the responses:

Adimora Umennabuike: i ve close my account wt wuse br.

Jonathan Justin: Its done

Tunde Akpeji: I have similarly communicated my plans to close my account with this bank especially when they are paying a foreign artiste some mind blowing cash to perform in the wake of these lay offs

Kennedy Onyegbado: I wil just hv to close my financial relationsip wit them

Osagie Christian: Aburime My account with this Bank will be closed forthwith

Omoba Kenneth: Comrade My broda tanx for the clarion call. We will ascent to it immediately.

Awhgum Dugkess: My NGO-Dugkess Foundation wil join yos 2 close our account though nt a significant acct if l may borow ur words against dis inhuman act-

Daniel Stanley: I totally support this concerted approach to eliminate unhumanity in Access Bank.

News Express reports that Access Bank has yet to react to the development despite efforts to get its Corporate Affairs Manager, Segun Fafore, to state its side of the story.