Court Awards N5m Damages Against Diamond Bank PLC For Negligence

A Delta State High Court sitting at Otor-Udu, in Udu Council Area has awarded the sum of N5m (five Million Naira) as damages for negligence against Diamond Bank PLC.

Hon. Justice Clara Emuobor Ashilefu, while delivering her judgment on Tuesday, 5 December, 2017 in suit No. W /546/2013 between Chief Francis Ometan and others and Diamond Bank PLC, stated that the Bank was negligent in the handling of the document kept in her custody for safe keeping.

The court also awarded N50,000.00 (fifty thousand naira) as cost against the Bank, noting that 17 years was not too long for the bank to be careless about the safety of documents kept in her custody.

Recalls that the suit which was instituted in 2013 at a Warri High Court was later transferred to the High Court at Otor-Udu following the transfer of the presiding Judge from Warri.

The items deposited with the Bank in 1997 included golds, beads and a Land Deed which is the subject matter in the case of negligence established against Diamond Bank PLC in the suit filed by J.O. Oweibo for the Claimant/Applicants with A.A. Fole (Mrs) of Gift and Duata Associates for the defendants/Respondents.

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Counsel to the Claimant/Applicants J.O. Oweibo had sued for the Bank demanding N250m as damages for negligence in the handling of the land deed that was found to have been thoroughly defaced and torn while in the bank custody for safe keeping which responsibility the bank was finally proven to have neglected to perform.

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