FirstBank Nigeria has described as spurious, allegations bordering on forgery brought against its managing director and three others as was reported by some online publications.
The Bank said in a statement on Thursday evening that “the basis of the charge is a spurious allegation made by a delinquent debtor to embarrass the Bank and taint its loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.”
The Bank assured its 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.”
The statement further quoted the Bank as saying that it remains focused on its mission of providing the best financial services to its numerous customers.
Recall that The Punch reported on Thursday that the Federal Government had filed charges against First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its managing director, and three others over allegations bordering on forgery.
The charge sheet marked CR/266/2023 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also includes two lawyers, Muftau Ande, and Dibiaezue Chuks, as well as the Utako Branch Manager of First Bank, Abuja.
In the charge sheet filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the five defendants were accused, among other things, of 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 defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.
