Heritage Bank of Nigeria has handed one its executive directors, Mary Akpobome an indefinite suspension to go and recover loans she signed off on.
Mrs Mary Akpobome, wife of popular comedian Ali Baba and an unnamed account officer were given the marching orders as it had been learnt that she and some highly placed bank officials were abusing their positions and engaging in fraudulent activities, Sahara reporters reports.
Heritage Bank is facing difficulties arising from insider abuse and self-dealing. Saharareporters listed it as undergoing distress in 2016.
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The bank management initially refused to touch the powerful executive directors, preferring to go after staff members suspected of revealing the bank’s problems.
According to Saharareporters, the bank Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo had 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.
