A former Team Managing Director of FirstBank, Dr. Bisi Onasanya, has pushed aside claims of his involvement in a industrial mortgage transaction performed 12 years in the past on the lender.
Onasanya refuted the allegation in a commentary signed through his communique guide, Mr. Michael Oshunuyi, on Sunday, in which he described the claims as baseless and an try to tarnish the popularity of the retired banker and chartered accountant.
On Thursday, the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee filed fees in opposition to Onasanya and 3 others on the Federal Top Court docket in Lagos for allegedly acquiring a N30bn mortgage below fake pretences. The anti-graft company mentioned the defendants could be arraigned on Monday.
The 3 alternative defendants are a former chairman of the First Depot of Nigeria, Oba Otudeko; an ex-board member of Honeywell Flour Generators plc, Soji Akintayo; and Anchorage Restricted, an organization connected to Otudeko.
Disregarding the claims, Oshunuyi mentioned, “Our attention has been drawn to allegations and a charge sheet circulating on social media suggesting Dr. Bisi Onasanya’s involvement in a purported commercial loan controversy at First Bank 12 years ago. While we have consistently chosen to ignore such baseless attacks for over ten years, the growing concern expressed by family, friends, and associates from across the globe compels us to address these unfounded claims.”
He claimed that the subject in query was once investigated 8 years in the past through the EFCC, two years later Onasanya retired from the cupboard.
“What is baffling is that a commercial transaction that occurred in 2013 and was thoroughly investigated eight years ago, where Dr. Onasanya established his innocence and non-involvement in the commercial transaction controversy, has now resurfaced in 2025 in the form of criminal prosecution. This is beyond his imagination,” a part of the commentary learn,” he added.
Oshunuyi additionally famous that, to life, Onasanya has now not been served with any fees, summoned, or officially invited through any court docket or investigating company relating to those claims for the reason that subject was once investigated and disbursed 8 years in the past, including that Onasanya is to be had to seem in court docket on every occasion he’s summoned to preserve his popularity and unclouded his title.
He additional reasoned that the allegations seem to apply a planned trend each date, with equivalent language and content material being disseminated throughout more than one media platforms. He suggested the media to workout warning and examine knowledge sooner than newsletter, stressing the intense implications of libel.
The commentary additionally clarified that Onasanya hasn’t ever expressed hobby by which particular person or workforce of individuals is answerable for the regulate or possession of First Depot or any alternative monetary establishment, for that subject. Rather, he has left the area from banking and remained dedicated to creating a favorable affect in public’s lives and alternative sectors of the economic system.
Within the vein, Otudeko, in a commentary, pushed aside the allegations in opposition to him, vowing to preserve his popularity.
A commentary issued within the wake of the allegations in part learn, “In luminous of new information studies, Dr. Oba Otudeko categorically refutes the claims regarding his function in FBN Holdings and can aggressively preserve his popularity.
“As of this moment, he has received no official summons, nor has his legal team received any official invitation from relevant authorities. As he has done in the past, Dr. Oba Otudeko is always ready and available to assist any government agency with appropriate oversight in the execution of their duties, with the expectation that these affairs will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism.”
He added that he was once neither eager about serving in an government capability in any organisation in Nigeria or in different places, neither is he eager about serving in a non-executive capability on any board except for the ones he recently sits on.
“This includes any possibility of returning to the board of FBN Holdings Plc, which appears to be the focus of the recent unfortunate news barrage,” he maintained.