Abdullahi Lawal, a Regional Manager with First Bank PLC, Kano Branch has died of a suspected case of COVID -19.
It was gathered that he took ill on Friday and was first put on admission at a private clinic in Kano from where he was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where he died.
Reacting to the death, First Bank issued a statement confirming the demise of the Banker, stating that the bank has shut down its Kano main branch, as it disinfects the entire location and also ask all staff and customers who may have been in contact with the late Lawal to follow the NCDC guidelines and self-isolate.
The statement, signed by Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications of First Bank read:
“FirstBank mourns as we confirm the loss of our staff, Abdullahi Lawal who until his passing worked at our Kano Main Branch.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time as we do all that is necessary to support them. We ask that all necessary courtesies be extended to the family so they can grieve privately.
“As a responsible corporate organization, FirstBank has been at the fore-front of the concerted efforts against the coronavirus pandemic alongside others.
“We have robust protocols in place including practicing social distancing, frequently disinfecting our buildings and locations even whilst ensuring services are available through our alternative channels such as our ATMs and other digital platforms.
“We have immediately therefore, shut down access to the premises as we disinfect the entire location and ask all staff and customers who may have been in contact with our late colleague to follow the NCDC guidelines and self-isolate. We will, as a matter of course, extend all possible support to staff and customers at this difficult time.
“Our thoughts are with the family he left behind and indeed with the wider FirstBank family who mourn this loss deeply at this time.
“We remain committed to protecting the health and safety of all staff, customers and host communities, as together the fight against coronavirus will be won”, the Bank stated.
Meanwhile, the National Centre for Disease Control has promised to investigate the allegations by a 70-year-old woman, Selma Ahmed, about the death of her son in-law, Lawal.
Ahmed, in a viral audio message, complained about how both the NCDC and Kano State Government abandoned her son in-law to die as a result of suspected COVID-19 infection.
