First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has reacted to the news making rounds over a purposed suit by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the Managing Director on allegation of forgery.
The Bank said that the report was a sponsored content to smear the reputation of the over 125-year-old financial institution.
Some section of the media reported that the Federal Government (of Nigeria) has filed charges against First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its managing director and three others over allegations bordering on forgery.
The charge sheet, marked CR/266/2023 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also includes two lawyers, Muftau Ande and Dibiaezue Chuks, as well as the Utako Branch Manager of First Bank, Abuja.
In the charge sheet filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the five defendants were accused, among other things, of forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”
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But in a swift response, FirstBank said the report was sponsored by a ‘delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the Bank and tainting the Bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof’.
The statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to a sponsored sensational report by some online publications on a charge brought against the Bank.
“While we will not be able to offer further comments as the matter is sub-judice, suffice it to say that the basis of the charge is a spurious allegation made by a delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the Bank and tainting the Bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.
“We wish to assure our numerous customers, stakeholders and the general public that FirstBank operates by the highest standards of ethical conduct and will under no circumstances involve itself in any act of illegality just as it will take necessary legal steps to check any attempt by recalcitrant debtors to fritter away depositors’ funds under its custody. Furthermore, FirstBank remains focused on its mission of providing the best financial services to its numerous customers”, the statement concludes.
