The Group Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola; former Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; and his successor, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, on Wednesday reported at the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria’s office in Alausa, Ikeja area of Lagos for interrogation over the ongoing investigation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Scores of policemen, including officers from the Anti-bomb Squad of the Nigerian Police Force and operatives of the Department of State Security had positioned themselves around the FRC office hours before the bank chiefs arrived.
The FRC is currently investigating the activities of the CBN under Mr. Lamido Sanusi, who was suspended as the governor by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.
Sanusi was suspended over allegations of financial misconduct and recklessness levelled by the FRC, which studied its accounts.
Akingbola had petitioned the Federal Government alleging illegal takeover of Intercontinental Bank by the Sanusi-led CBN.
Aig-Imoukhuede, Wigwe and Akingbola were questioned separately for hours by the FRC officials, according to sources close to the investigation.
Others who were invited for questioning are Mr. Ehi Okoyomon, Alhaji Ahmed Barmali and Mr. Igho Dafinone.
The heavy presence of policemen and SSS operatives prevented movements around the FRC office located at the Elephant House, Alausa.
Officials at the scene said the bankers stared arriving before the scheduled 11am commencement of the interrogation. Although the interrogation commenced a few minutes after 11am, the session was still on when our correspondent left the area around 3pm.
Sources at the venue later told our correspondent that the bankers left one after the other after they had been questioned.
Although the specific subject of the interrogations could not be ascertained, sources close to the panel said the sale of the defunct Intercontinental Bank was among the issues.
Already, three shareholders of the defunct Intercontinental Bank have sued Sanusi, the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission over the sale of the bank.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Akingbola did not make any presentation at the place. He was said to have argued that doing so would be subjudice since the matter was already in the court.
The FRC had in a public notice said although it was investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 2011 and 2012, “related matters arising from transactions and events that impacted on the said 2011 and 2012 from earlier years and had implications for later periods” were also being examined.
Sanusi and eight others are expected to appear before FRC panel on today (Thursday).
The others who are scheduled to appear before the council today are a former Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo; acting Governor, CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade; Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu; Deputy Governor, CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Mr. Babatunde Dayo, Mr. Gabriel Okpeh and Mr. Ezekiel Ejedele.
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