GTBank Speaks on Arrest of Innoson, EFCC Controversy, Alleged Massive Withdrawals by Bank Customers

Against the backdrop of the controversy involving Guaranty Trust Bank and CEO of Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma, the management of the bank has finally broken its silence and addressed some issues surrounding the controversy.

In an official notice sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), on Thursday, the management of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), said it would continue to report any untoward and criminal activity to law enforcement agencies despite the criticism it has faced following the arrest of businessman Innocent Chukwuma.

According to Premium Times, the bank said it would however not comment on a case already under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

In its notice to the stock exchange, signed by the company secretary, Erhi Obebeduo, the bank urged Nigerians to ignore all sorts of innuendoes being purportedly spread across the social media against the bank.

The notice read; “The bank would however not be dettered from pursuing appropriate actions either in respect of its delinquent loans or reporting any untoward/criminal activity for investigations by the appropriate authorities.

“The Bank as a custodian of depositors’funds views it’s obligation to deepositors with a high sense of responsibility and would jealously protect such funds and take appropriate steps to recover debts from any recalcitrant debtor.”

The bank also reacted to speculations that its customers were withdrawing their money and subsequently closing their accounts following the business disagreement with Innoson.

“The attention of Guaranty Trust Bank plc has been drawn to publications in the news and social media which purports that customers of the Bank are closing their accounts with the Bank, and urging the Bank’s esteemed customers to withdraw their money from the Bank as a result of this.

“These statements are completely false, baseless and malicious,” the bank said on its official Facebook page on Thursday.

The notice to the stock exchange is against the backdrop of the controversy involving the bank and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma.

Chukwuma was arrested on Tuesday morning at his residence in Enugu by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who remanded him at their field office in the city. He was later released on bail on Wednesday evening.

The EFCC said it arrested and detained the industrialist after attempts to summon him were rebuffed. But Cornel Osigwe, a spokesperson for Innoson debunked the claim by the EFCC, saying the businessman was never invited prior to his arrest and dared the anti-graft agency to present evidence of invitation to Nigerians.

Osigwe blamed the GTBank for orchestrating the arrest of his principal, a claim the bank denied shortly after Chukwuma was arrested Tuesday.

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