Access Bank, EFCC Tussle Over Orji Kalu’s Assets

By Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Access Bank are in a tussle over assets belonging to the convicted former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu it emerged at the weekend.

The dispute relates to assets claimed by the commission but which were secured by Slok assets charged to Diamond Bank which was recently taken over by Access Bank.

Group Managing Director of Access Bank and some senior officials of the bank were recently invited by the commission over the differing interests of the commission and the bank.

Responding to some online news insinuations on the purpose of the bank’s officials to the EFCC, the bank in a statement submitted to the Stock Exchange disclosed thus:

Our attention has been drawn to a trending report on social media regarding the alleged arrest of Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc (Access Bank) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (“the Commission”).

We wish to state that the issue essentially relates to the credit facilities that were availed Slok Nigeria Limited (“Slok”) by the defunct Diamond Bank plc (“Diamond”) and which were secured by Slok’s assets charged to Diamond. Access Bank had inherited the Slok credit following the recent merger of Diamond with Access Bank.

Given the differing interest of the Commission and the Bank on the assets of Slok deriving from the court’s recent judgment on Slok, the Commission had invited for interrogation officials of Access Bank who were handling the Bank’s recovery efforts on Slok credit including its Group Managing Director.

Following fruitful engagement between the Bank and the Commission, we are of the opinion that the issues relating to Slok investigation have been resolved.

As an institution built on best practice, we wish to assure our esteemed stakeholders that the Bank will continue to conduct its business in line with extant laws and relations

Sunday Ekwochi

Company secretary

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