*Responds To Privacy Scandal, Vows Full Cooperation with Authorities
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Access Bank has faced backlash for attempting to suppress a damning report published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) regarding Stephen Ejezie, a former employee who secretly recorded hundreds of videos of his colleagues naked in the office’s bathrooms.
Until his dismissal in April, Ejezie worked at Access Bank’s contact center in Oniru, Lagos, as a quality assurance specialist. He was arrested after being caught in the female restroom at the contact center around 1:30 am on a Wednesday, secretly recording a colleague. Further investigation revealed multiple videos on his mobile devices, leading to his arrest.
On Saturday, FIJ published a report highlighting worker concerns about the possibility of Ejezie not facing prosecution despite his dismissal, raising fears that justice might be denied.
In an apparent attempt to quash the report, Access Bank escalated the matter to its web hosting provider, Cloudflare, accusing FIJ of “trademark abuse” in an effort to have the article removed from the internet.
According to documents, Access Bank enlisted the help of CyberSOC-CERT Deloitte to act on its behalf and requested the removal of the article. The email, sent on Sunday, claimed that FIJ’s publication violated Access Bank’s trademark and sought its removal under the guise of cyber-crime prevention.
In response to the request, Cloudflare notified FIJ that it had received a trademark infringement complaint regarding the article. The complaint was filed by CyberSOC-CERT Deloitte on behalf of Access Bank. The email also suggested that the publication was infringing on Access Bank’s trademark rights, particularly the use of its name and logo.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, prompting widespread public outcry. Nigerians expressed anger over what they saw as an attempt by Access Bank to silence critical journalism.
Two days after the story broke, Access Bank issued a statement on its social media platforms, claiming it was cooperating with law enforcement authorities on the matter and emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and privacy violations. The statement further clarified, “We are aware of reports regarding an alleged privacy violation involving a former Contact Centre agent. We are working closely with the relevant authorities and remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and privacy for our employees and customers.”
This is not the first time that a powerful institution has attempted to block FIJ’s reports. In a previous instance, Landwey, a real estate investment company exposed by FIJ for alleged fraudulent activities, tried to suppress a similar story. While Landwey succeeded temporarily with DigitalOcean, it ultimately failed when FIJ proved its legal right to the content.
FIJ has remained steadfast in its commitment to investigative journalism, despite efforts by organizations like Access Bank to suppress its stories. The foundation continues to hold those in power accountable, ensuring that vital information reaches the public.
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