First Bank of Nigeria Limited has debunked the report of alleged charges brought against it, its managing director and three others over allegations bordering on forgery.
According to the said publication, the alleged charges filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, pertain to “forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”
The Bank, its MD and other defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.
Reacting to the publication, the Bank said it was “sponsored by a delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the Bank and tainting the Bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.”
Below is the official statement:
Our attention has been drawn to a sponsored sensational report by some online publications on a charge brought against the Bank.
While we will not be able to offer further comments as the matter is sub-judice, suffice it to say that the basis of the charge is a spurious allegation made by a delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the Bank and tainting the Bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.
We wish to assure our numerous customers, stakeholders and the general public that FirstBank operates by the highest standards of ethical conduct and will under no circumstances involve itself in any act of illegality just as it will take necessary legal steps to check any attempt by recalcitrant debtors to fritter away depositors’ funds under its custody. Furthermore, FirstBank remains focused on its mission of providing the best financial services to its numerous customers.