Heritage Bank of
Nigeria has taken an unprecedented step against one its executive directors,
Mary Akpobome, who happens to be the wife of popular Nigerian comedian Ali
Baba: an indefinite suspension to go and recover loans she signed off on.
Heritage Bank is facing difficulties arising from insider
abuse and self-dealing.
Saharareporters listed it as undergoing distress
in 2016.
Several
bank sources told Saharareporters that Mrs. Akpobome and powerful bank
management were abusing their positions and engaging in fraud. But today, Mrs.
Akpobomeand an unnamed account officer were sent packing leading her to clear
her desk because she anticipates that the task was so impossible she may
not return to the bank.
The bank management initially refused to touch the powerful
executive directors, preferring to go after staff members suspected of
revealing the bank's problems
Saharareporters
learned that the bank Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo has not been to work since
January, and was reported to be ill. Some of the sources within the bank,
however, said his prolonged absence might have been to enable Mrs. Akpobome to
be thrown under the bus as investors’ confidence has waned over the lack of
action concerning top management staff fingered in fraudulent transactions.
It
would be recalled that only last week, an Abuja company petitioned the Federal
High Court and the Central Bank of Nigeria to liquidate the bank on
account of its inability to meet customers’ demands.
Geonel Integrated
Services Limited, a security services company, cited its own experience,
claiming it has over N1.8billion and another $85,859 trapped in various
Heritage Bank accounts.
...saharareporter
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