Fidelity Bank Plc is but once more embroiled in one other messy Scandal as video footage of its Managing Director admitting to paying a humongous sum of cash to keep away from Police Detention has emerged on-line.
Within the leaked video seen by NEWSNGR, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Nneka C. Onyeali‑Ikpe, acknowledged that she paid ₦5 billion to safe her launch from police custody amid a multi‑billion‑naira fraud investigation.
The footage captures Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe talking with a protracted‑standing buyer, recognized solely as Uba, who has had an account with the financial institution since 2003.
Uba had complained that his account was frozen and all his contact particulars “together with my telephone quantity and electronic mail” deactivated with out warning. “I assumed it was vital to get your quantity because the Managing Director,” he instructed her. “I not have entry to my account.”
In response, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe confirmed the financial institution’s authorized woes and her personal slender escape from detention.
“I used to be virtually arrested — I needed to bail myself out. Our employees spent nights in police custody due to this difficulty. I even needed to spend ₦5 billion to safe bail and defend the financial institution,” she mentioned. She added that the financial institution had given Uba “a 14‑day deadline to return to the nation so we may resolve the matter,” however obtained no reply.
When Uba pressed for readability, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe concluded, “We’re now being charged with conspiracy and misappropriation—issues we all know nothing about. It’s not honest to the financial institution both.”
The revelations come towards the backdrop of Cost No: FHC/L/138C/2025, filed in February 2025 on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Lagos. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is prosecuting 4 defendants—lawyer Victor Ukutt, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe, and Whoba Ugwunna Ogo (at massive)—for allegedly conspiring to transform ₦19 billion belonging to Woobs Sources Restricted.
Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe was initially named in three counts underneath the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act however was faraway from the indictment in an amended 10‑rely cost filed Could 5, 2025. Her identify was changed with Safiya Whoba. The present Defendants within the cost are: Victor Ukutt, Esq, Fidelity Bank Plc, Whoba Ugwunna Ogo and Safiya Whoba as 1st to 4th Defendants respectively.
The Lawyer‑Normal’s workplace later clarified her elimination, stating she “was neither the account officer nor the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank when the account in query was opened.”
Earlier, Fidelity Bank and Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe filed a counter‑affidavit asserting a previous settlement with the complainants “to not provoke or make any grievance to legislation enforcement brokers” towards the financial institution—a promise they are saying the prosecution has now “breached to its detriment.”
