Fidelity Bank Denies Bribery Claims, Cites Fraud Concerns
Bank Rebuts Sahara Reporters’ Claims, Claims Transactions Were Flagged as Suspicious; Threatens Legal Action Over “False” Story
Fidelity Bank Plc. has vehemently denied allegations of extortion and unlawful withholding of a customer’s funds, calling a recent Sahara Reporters article “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
The bank accused the publication of misrepresenting facts about a ₦1.4 million remittance dispute involving a customer at its University of Benin (UNIBEN) branch.
Bank’s Rebuttal: Key Points from the Timeline
In a statement signed by Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, Divisional Head of Brand & Communications, Fidelity Bank outlined its defense:
1. March 14, 2025: A customer visited the UNIBEN branch to collect funds sent via Remitly. A middle name discrepancy was resolved, and the bank processed the first tranche (₦123,000). However, seven split transactions from the same sender triggered compliance protocols.
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2. March 17, 2025: The customer demanded full payment despite pending due diligence. The bank refused, citing anti-fraud policies: “Splitting transactions to evade thresholds is a known tactic of fraudsters.”
3. Suspicious Activity: Multiple transactions from a single sender.
– Receiver (Ubrure Jite) lacked direct knowledge of the sender, with a third party (Patrick) acting as intermediary.
– Inconsistent account history and unclear transaction purpose.
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4. Remitly’s Directive: The International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) instructed the bank to **reject the transactions** after failing to contact the sender. Remitly confirmed the beneficiary could not validate her relationship with the sender.
5. March 24, 2025: The customer allegedly staged a branch demonstration to “intimidate staff” and threatened media escalation. The bank reported the case to law enforcement for fraud investigation.
“No Bribe Requested”: Bank Denies Extortion Claims
Fidelity Bank dismissed allegations that Operations Manager “Nosa” demanded bribes, calling the claim *“baseless and unsubstantiated.”* Dr. Nwagboh stated:
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“At no point did our staff ask for a bribe, explicitly or implicitly. Accusations against our employee’s character and the bank’s reputation are reckless and legally actionable.”
Legal Action & Defense of Reputation
The bank condemned Sahara Reporters for publishing “unverified allegations,” hinting at potential lawsuits:
“This story reflects gross unprofessionalism. We are consulting legal counsel to seek remedies against defamatory falsehoods.”
Fidelity Bank reiterated its commitment to regulatory compliance: “As a institution governed by ethics, we prioritize fraud prevention. Protecting customers and the financial system is non-negotiable.”