Connect with us

NEWS

N20bn Bailout: Kogi Assembly Threatens To Arrest Sterling Bank MD

Published

on





Kogi House of Assembly has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Managing Director of Sterling Bank Plc., Mr Abubakar Suleiman.

 

The assembly said  it would effect the arrest, if  the managing director  failed to appear before it on Nov. 16.

Advertisement

Speaker of the House, Mr Matthew Kolawole issued the threat at plenary on Tuesday,  following the inability of the managing director of the bank to honour the invitation of the  house.

 

Recalls that the house on Nov. 2, invited the managing director to clarify issues surrounding the controversial N20 billion bailout fund the bank claimed it would send back to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Advertisement

The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr  Asiwaju Asiru Idris,  alongside the state Accountant General, Mr Jibril Momoh and Auditor General, Mr  Yakubu Okala appeared before the house on Nov. 2, to offer clarification on the alleged N20 billion bailout fund.

On resumption of plenary on Tuesday, the Regional Manager of Sterling Bank,  Mr Enejo Ibrahim; and Counsel to the Bank, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN) were at the assembly to represent the managing director.

Enitan stated that  the managing director just got the invitation, necessitating a representation by the regional manager.

Advertisement

The speaker, at a Committee of the Whole, insisted that the representatives would not be allowed to speak except they tendered a letter from the managing director authorising them to represent him.

Kolawole gave the bank’s chief executive officer till Nov.  16, to appear before it, saying that any attempt to dishonour the invitation would make the house to apply every legal means to coerce appearance.

He pointed out that the claim that the state government fixed the bailout fund meant for payment of salary arrears for civil servants, in an account with the bank had brought embarrassment to the government and people of Kogi.

Advertisement

Kolawole said investigations by the house Committee on Public Accounts, revealed that the allegations were baseless and untrue, adding that the assembly would get to the root of the matter.

The speaker in his ruling upon return to his seat, gave the ultimatum of Tuesday, Nov.16,  for the MD, Sterling Bank to present himself before the house for necessary explanations or Executive Order of Arrest would be applied.

It would be recalled that on Aug. 31, Justice Tijani Ringim, a Lagos High Court vacation Judge, froze  the Kogi  account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc., following an ex-parte application brought by the EFCC.

Advertisement

The EFCC had alleged that the bailout money, which was meant for  payment of salary arrears in the state, was kept in an interest-yielding account with the name of the state as “Kogi State Salary Bailout Account.”

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Click to comment
FEATURED9 hours ago

Chant of ‘No Objections’ Deafens Public Hearing on Anioma State Creation

FEATURED10 hours ago

South-South APC Backs Tinubu’s 2027 Bid as Sole Candidate, Endorse APC Govs in Major Political Scheme

FEATURED21 hours ago

FBI Goes After Lagos-based Man Who Allegedly Diverted Trump’s 2025 Inauguration Fund of N460 Million

COMMUNITY REPORT1 day ago

Historic 71-Year Campaign for Anioma State Gains Momentum at Public Hearing as Delta North Monarchs Urge Justice and Action

COMMUNITY REPORT1 day ago

Isoko South Chair Urges Trainees of ‘More Cap-Up’ Scheme to Make Judicious Use of Starter Packs

FEATURED1 day ago

Constitutional Review: Stakeholders Unanimously Demand, Submit Memoranda for Creation of Anioma State from Delta

FEATURED1 day ago

Wike Bombs Amaechi, Accuses His Wife of Fleecing NDDC Funds, Calls Tinubu to Release Forensic Audit Report

Delta Politician
COMMUNITY REPORT2 days ago

NUJ Warri Lauds Tompolo, Other Benefactors, Tasks Delta Govt on Eburu Street Road Repair

OPINION2 days ago

ANIOMA STATE CREATION: ANOTHER FEATHER IN NWOKO’s CAP

FEATURED2 days ago

Chevron’s Boss Calls for Pragmatic Approach to the Future of Energy at NOG 2025

FEATURED2 days ago

DELTA CENTRAL 2027: WHAT URHOBO NATION NEEDS IS A SMART AND WORKING SENATOR, NOT AN OKPE-SLOT FILLER

FEATURED2 days ago

NEPC Forthcoming Promotion Exam: No Breach of Civil Service Rules – Official Dismisses Report of Nepotism

ENTERTAINMENT3 days ago

CEO of Rero TV Announces 5th Anniversary Celebration for Sapele

FEATURED3 days ago

Suspected Cultists Arrested as Police Recover Pistol, Stolen Vehicle in Delta

Senate
FEATURED3 days ago

Expectations High as Public Hearing on Anioma State Creation Begins on Friday

Advertisement
Advertisement