World Humanity Commission Again Call On Nigerian Govt To Probe Fidelity Bank Alleged N7bn Fraud Linked To Bank’s MD, Okonkwo

Independent and Sovereign Inter-Governmental Organization, World Humanity Commission, WHC, with  headquarters in New York, has again called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to investigate the allegations of human rights abuses and fraud running into N7billion allegedly rocking Fidelity Bank Plc.

The Commission which earlier petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other security agencies as well as invoked the Freedom of Information law against the bank, expressed disappointment that relevant government agencies have failed to thoroughly investigate the matter raised in its petition.

It claimed that it had raised a petition of alleged case of fraud in the bank as well as the obnoxious policies in which several of their staff are made to work under severe inhuman conditions but the petition had not received considerable attention.

A fresh press statement on the issue by Office of the Honourable Minister, WHC, made available to BigPen Online on Friday read in full:

It has been brought to our notice that there are sad cases of Human Rights abuse taking place in a Nigerian Bank known as Fidelity Bank PLC.

The Bank we are made to understand operates obnoxious policies in which several of their staff are made to work under severe inhuman conditions such as,

Rendering full services to the Bank for over very long period without pay under the guise of serving administrative sanctions.

Such acts of “modern slavery” are in direct violation of the International Labour Laws of which Nigeria being a signatory, enshrined same in her own Labour Laws,

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Sacking their staff indiscriminately without recourse to due process, the Substantive Rules and Regulations Governing Conditions of Employment of Staff,

Failure to pay up staff gratuity and pensions despite a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria for the Bank to do so on or before July 31,2017.

This has caused untold hardship to the poorly paid staff especially in the harsh economic situation of the country.

Unfortunately too, there is an alleged case of fraud in the Bank where it’s Managing Director /CEO Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the Board of Directors were said to have approved a facility to the tune of over N7billion ($20,000,000), to a fictitious company which it has been alleged that the said MD/CEO has substantial links. The huge loss is jeopardizing shareholders investments.

However, it’s a pity that the relevant government agencies have failed to thoroughly investigate the matter until now.

It’s disheartening that a Bank with such a poor record for staff welfare could afford to fritter away such huge funds on spurious facilities.

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We want to use this medium to call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to investigate the activities of Fidelity Bank PLC with a view to tackle all the issues we have raised here for the sake of humanity.