Indications has emerged that contrary to claims by a section of the media that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is after the Managing Director of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifi e Sekibo, over the diversion of an alleged N13 billion belonging to the Oyo state government, that there is no truth to the report. An offi cial of the EFCC familiar with the investigation dismissed the newspaper report as a fi gment of the correspondent’s imagination, insisting that the investigation has nothing to do with the MD of Heritage Bank as an individual, rather routine investigation into possible red fl ags on an account with the bank. “Investigation into accounts are routine matter which the EFCC and other anti-graft bodies undertake now and then.
“Once a letter or inquiry is received from any of the antigraft bodies usually to the top management, it is directed to the appropriate quarters in this instance the relationship and compliance managers who deal with it. To concoct stories that the MD is wanted over a matter that even the Oyo State government has denied knowledge of is unfortunate,” said the offi cial who spoke on condition of anonymity. Th e offi cial, who acknowledged that Sekibo has been out of the country for medical check-up for quite a while, noted that the EFCC was aware of the development and wonders how anybody could say the MD is wanted.
A newspaper had reported on Sunday that the Heritage MD was wanted by the EFCC for failing to honour their invitation over allegations into diversion of N13 billion by some unnamed offi cials of the Oyo state government into their private accounts. Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, also confi rmed that investigations into accounts are routine. “It is true that some of our people went to the bank but it was a routine investigation. Th ey went to get documents in relation to the investigation. I cannot say more than that for now,” Uwujairen was quoted as saying. Speaking on record, the Group Head, Corporate Communication, Heritage Bank, Mr. Fela Ibidapo, said: “Th ere is no management fraud. Th ere is a customer’s account that the EFCC is interested in and the normal thing is to talk to the account offi cer. “Th ey are just investigating an account entry. Th ey have invited the relationship manager. It is still being investigated and for confi dential issues I can’t divulge more than that.”
