CBN special investigator insists Lemo, others must appear to provide clarification or forfeit TTB

The Special Investigator probing the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Other Related Entities, Mr. Jim Obazee, over the weekend rejected an excuse by the Chairman of Titan Trust Bank Limited, Mr. Tunde Lemo, and two others not to appear for interrogation today.

The three top officials of Titan Trust Bank invited by the special investigator, appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to provide clarification into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Union Bank have vowed to cooperate fully with the investigation.

The officials: the chairman of Titan Trust Bank (TTB), Babatunde Lemo, the chairman of Tropical General Investments Group, Cornelius Vink and the managing director of the group, Rahul Savara, made the pledge in a reply sent to the Investigator, Jim Obazee, through their lawyers yesterday.

The head of operations, Office of the Special Investigator, DCP Eloho Okpoziakpo, had in the letter dated December 23, 2923, asked the trio to appear before the panel on December 28 at the Department of Force Intelligence (DFI), opposite Nigeria Police Force Head-quarters Shehu Shagari Way Area 11, Garki Abuja, without fail or excuse.

Okpoziakpo had also stated that the Investigative Panel extended a fresh invitation to the three men to counter TTB’s allegation that they were not given a fair hearing.

He also told them that if they failed to honour the invitation, “it will be construed that they have decided to forfeit their purported shareholdings in TTB and Union Bank of Nigeria, irrespective of which vehicle they are using to own the purported shares.”

But in the letter signed by Professor Gbolahan Elias (SAN) on their behalf, the three men claimed that they would not be able to honour the invitation because they are presently out of the country for family and other reasons.

They, however, promised to make themselves available as soon as they returned to Nigeria.

The letter reads: “We trust that this letter meets you well. We are lawyers, to Titan Trust Bank Ltd. (‘TTB’) and Union Bank Plc (‘Union’) (the ‘Banks’). We respectfully have their instructions to write this letter regarding the invitations in your letter to TTB dated December 23, 2023.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Aftermath of drone attack: Count us out of Christmas celebration —Tudun Biri Christians

• Christmas: No cash, high cost of food items, but we will find way to celebrate

• Tinubu’s approval rating is reducing — Lukman, APC former vice chair

• FG to investigate outrageous airfares by airlines

• After two years, CBN lifts ban on cryptocurrency transactions

• Ailing Chief Kokori dies on 80th birthday

• Revenue: Stop tax waivers, offer rebates, Senate tells FG