Heritage Bank MD, Others Rebut Involvement In N13billion Fraud

Contrary to the report released by Sunday Punch Newspaper and other online news platforms, the management of Heritage Bank has refuted the allegation that the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo and other staff members were involved in N13billion fraud from funds belonging to the Oyo State government.

The bank in the early hours of today in a statement sent to BrandArena stated that, the management of the bank "finds it (the reports) distasteful, unethical and unprofessional of these media houses to tarnish the image of Mr Ifie Sekibo, MD/CEO and the bank".

Below is the full statement from the bank:

Our attention has been drawn to Sunday Punch Newspaper and other online news (Sunday 27th August) report of an alleged N13billion fraud involving the Managing Director and other staff members of the bank of funds belonging to the Oyo State government.

The Management will want to categorically and unequivocally state that neither the MD – Mr. Ifie Sekibo nor any member of the management staff of the bank is being investigated by the EFCC on a N13billion fraud.

Contrary to the false report released by Sunday Punch Newspaper and other online news platforms, the EFCC had informed the bank of an account (not related to OYO state government as likewise verified by the Punch Newspaper via the State’s Finance Commissioner) being investigated by the agency. Over the last week, the bank has fully cooperated with EFCC by providing various documentation and also presented its staff in this regard.

Management finds it distasteful, unethical and unprofessional of these media houses to tarnish the image of Mr Ifie Sekibo – MD/CEO and the bank.

We urge the general public to disregard the article in its entirety.