Fidelity Bank Plc has found itself in the eye of another storm following the emergence of a viral video in which the bank’s Managing Direct...
Fidelity Bank Plc has found itself in the eye of another storm following the emergence of a viral video in which the bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Nneka C. Onyeali-Ikpe, is heard confessing to paying ₦5 billion to avoid police detention during a high-profile fraud investigation.
The leaked video, exclusively obtained by ZINGTIE, shows Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe speaking with a longstanding client, Uba, who has reportedly banked with Fidelity since 2003. Uba expressed frustration that all his account contact details—including his phone number and email—were suddenly deactivated without warning. “I no longer have access to my account,” he told the MD, stating that he reached out directly to understand the situation.
Responding, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe confirmed the bank’s entanglement in a massive fraud case and admitted to personally paying billions to avoid incarceration. “I was almost arrested — I had to bail myself out. Our staff spent nights in police custody because of this issue. I even had to spend ₦5 billion to secure bail and defend the bank,” she stated. She also mentioned the bank’s unsuccessful efforts to reach Uba, saying he had been given a 14-day ultimatum to return to Nigeria to resolve the matter.
“We’re now being charged with conspiracy and misappropriation—things we know nothing about. It’s not fair to the bank either,” Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe added, visibly distressed by the situation.
The video has reignited public scrutiny around the ongoing case linked to Charge No. FHC/L/138C/2025, filed in February 2025 at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The case involves allegations of criminal conspiracy and the illegal conversion of ₦19 billion belonging to Woobs Resources Limited.
Originally, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe was listed among four defendants, alongside Fidelity Bank Plc, lawyer Victor Ukutt, and Whoba Ugwunna Ogo (at large). However, in an updated 10-count amended charge filed on May 5, 2025, her name was dropped and replaced with Safiya Whoba, following clarifications from the Office of the Attorney General. The AG's office stated she “was neither the account officer nor the Managing Director when the account in question was opened.”
Despite her removal from the indictment, the leaked footage has raised serious ethical and legal concerns. In a previous court filing, both Fidelity Bank and Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe argued that the complainants had breached a prior agreement not to involve law enforcement, claiming the renewed prosecution had caused reputational and operational damage to the bank.
The latest revelations have further complicated public perception of the scandal, drawing attention not just to the alleged fraud, but to the internal struggles of one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions. As the case continues to unfold, pressure is mounting for greater transparency from the bank's leadership and clarity on the true extent of its involvement.
Public reaction to the video has been swift and mixed, with many calling for a thorough investigation, while others question how an institution of such size and regulatory oversight could become entangled in such a scandal without early intervention from authorities.
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