Fidelity Bank Plc this afternoon contradicted claims that it failed to inform relevant authorities about a multi-million US dollar deposit by one of its high profile customers, for which the bank’s managing director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, was arrested on Monday and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Media reports this morning had identified the client as immediate past minister of petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the amount involved as $115 million reportedly lodged in the closing days of the 2015 presidential campaign.
A statement just issued in Lagos on Thursday, April 28, 2016 by Fidelity Bank’s management said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media on investigations into transactions undertaken by the Bank in the normal course of business in 2015.
“The transactions are now the subject matter of investigations by the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“We can confirm that the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators and the bank is cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.
“We assure our numerous stakeholders, including our customers that we are working assiduously towards a quick resolution of the issues.”
