Going by the contents of the report of Mr. Jim Obazee, the special investigator investigating the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Mr. Godwin Emefiele, they are indications that the full ownership of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN), that went into the hands of Tunde Lemo led Titan of Nigeria Bank, may return to the federal government of Nigeria.
Lemo, the former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is being accused of acquiring the commercial bank in a shady deal.
However, Lemo, who was once the managing director of Wema Bank is not alone; others being accused with him are Messrs Cornelius Vink and Mr Rahul Savara.
The report gleaned by our report from the table of one of those in government is full of damming allegations detailing how Lemo and his partners have been failing to appear before the investigator.
The latest invitation is the one dated December 24, 2023 in, which they were advised to appear before the investigator at Department of Force Intelligence opposite the Force Headquarters, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja on Thursday, December 29, 2023, GB gwhere he is expected to be questioned further over the UBN acquisition. which they will be sanctioned by way of forfiture If they fail to honour the invitation.
The letter was signed by Head of Operations, Office of the Special Investigator, DCP Eloho Okpoziakpo. and it reads in part: ” instead of honouring the invitation and providing the requested documents, we received a letter from the Company Secretary of Union Bank, Somuyiwa Sonubi, dated 1st September 2023, informing the Special Investigator that Mr. Cornelius Vink was out of the country on medical grounds and that both “Messrs Vink and Savara will be available for the meeting as soon as they are in Nigeria which will be soon” (copy attached as Appendix 2).
‘’Up until this offensive defence that you put in the public domain, the Special Investigator has neither heard from them nor received the requested documents.”
Please, inform them to come along with all the documents/information requested from them by the letter to Mr Cornelius Vink dated 28th August 2023 (attached herewith as Appendix 1). You will also be required to make additional statements to your earlier statement on that day.
‘’Kindly note that if Messrs Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara refuse to attend this meeting and provide/defend the requested documents/information, it will be construed that they have decided to forfeit their purported shareholdings in TTB and Union Bank of Nigeria; irrespective of which vehicle that they are using to own the purported shares.
‘’Should you also refuse to attend the meeting to provide additional statement to your earlier statement made in August 2023, it will be construed that you misled the Nigerian public with your reaction in the PUNCH Newspapers today which has gained wide publicity in both electronic and print media.’’
‘’it is beyond reasonable doubt that the Federal Government of Nigeria has given you a fair hearing.’’
