Aftermath Of "Begging" Fayose, Bank Official Reassigned, Demoted

When the story of Zenith bank management officials begging Governor Ayo Fayose broke last week over the Governors personal account frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) became public knowledge and the bank managements perceived reluctant in refuting the claim it was clear the bank must have actually asked its official to plead with Governor Fayose not to expose or end the state relationship with the bank. News broke yesterday that the officer who actually knelt down begging the governor who until yesterday was the branch manager of the bank’s branch in Ado Ekiti has been more or less demoted and transferred to another branch in Ogun state.

According to sources, Bunmi Falana popularly called Bumchaka was asked to report at one of the bank’s branches in Ogun state as a marketer. It is not however clear if this is unconnected with the governors personal account frozen and consequent “Business Advisory Visit” to the government house in Ado Ekiti where the bank’s executive director, zonal Manager and the embattled branch head was pictured on his kneels begging Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

There were various reports as regards the purpose of the Bank’s team who were at the government house last week after Governor Fayose said Zenith bank bank-rolled his election in 2014 to become the state Governor. Shortly after that statement became public the bank was alleged to have refuted the statement saying the bank never sponsored Governor Fayose’s election.  In order to maintain the relationship of the bank with the state government and the governor in particular, the bank had swiftly sent a high powered delegation headed by the Executive director of the bank's south west region and the zone’s head. It was at the this meeting report says Mr Fayose turned it into another things and invited cameramen and reporters to come in and see the officials begging and Mr. Bunmi Falana going on his kneels to beg the governor.

Recall that an Ekiti High Court has on Monday 27^th June 2016 ordered that the EFCC and Zenith Bank PLC appear before it to explain the reasons why the Governor’s personal account with the bank was frozen without a court order asking them to do so. It is however not clear if the anti graft agency will honor the invitation. There were unconfirmed reports also that the agency must have gotten a court order apparently after the account was frozen to back its action.