In previous media reports, Nnamdi Okonkwo, the newly appointed Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc, was reportedly arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was learned that Okonkwo’s questioning is not unconnected with his alleged role in the transfer of $153m linked with Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke from the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission.
The EFCC had claimed that Diezani siphoned $153m out of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and stashed it in three banks in the country.
The anti-graft agency had in January 2017 claimed that Okonkwo, who was the former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, allegedly helped Diezani to take delivery of the money, and kept $40m with the former Executive Director, Public Sector Accountant, First Bank Plc, Mr. Dauda Lawal, in order to conceal the source.
The banker’s grilling is coming barely three weeks after the announcement by FBN Holdings Plc that Okonkwo would replace Mr. U.K. Eke as the group managing director of the company, following the successful completion of Eke’s two-term tenure.
According to the statement, Okonkwo will assume office as the GMD of FBN Holdings Plc effective January 1, 2022, as Eke’s retirement will take effect on December 31, 2021.
It had said Okonkwo would bring to bear on the board of FBN Holdings more than 30 years of banking career spanning local and international experience.
His appointment is subject to the approval of regulatory authorities, according to the statement.
The statement said Okonkwo has a wealth of experience in transformational leadership, business strategy development and visioning, innovative corporate governance, and risk management.
It also said he had led the transformation of banks, with the most recent being Fidelity Bank, where he led the management team in seven years to achieve remarkable results culminating in tripling profit and shareholder value.
However, in an interview on Monday with The Source magazine, Okonkwo refuted reports that he was arrested by the EFCC over an alleged money laundering.
The former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc described the news of his arrest as false and baseless, asking the public to disregard the report.
Okonkwo added that he was with his family over the weekend and was never arrested as claimed by several media reports.
He said: “I cannot be in my bedroom and somebody somewhere will be saying, EFCC has arrested me and that I have been in the custody of the anti-graft commission for days.
“I have been enjoying myself with my family, apart from going to the gym to keep in form.
“I have also held a series of meetings with my new employer in the last few days. So, I don’t understand what Premium Times is saying. I can’t be in EFCC custody and they will allow me to speak to you.”
