Heritage Bank denies fraud suspects were its employees

The bank released a statement today, July 11, 2017, to state that the claims are false.

Heritage Bank has denied reports that three of its staff were involved in a N150 million fraud as it was reported on Monday, July 10, 2017.

An online blog started circulating the story yesterday, claiming that three of the suspects involved in a N150 million fraud scandal were employees of the bank, who colluded with two members of staff working with telecommunications giant, MTN.

The bank released a statement today, July 11, 2017, to state that the claims are false.

According to the statement, "Heritage Bank Plc wants to categorically state that the following persons said to have been the perpetrators of the fraud; Oyelade Shola-Isaac, 32, Osuolale Hammid, 40, and Akeem Adesina, 33 were never staff of Heritage Bank Plc at any time."

The news report had claimed that the bank's staff members, named as those in the statement, had siphoned money from the bank accounts of Heritage customers by using their phone numbers that were provided by their fellow MTN conspirators.

The blog also claimed that the bank employees provided their syndicate with the information of bank customers with funded accounts but who were not into internet banking; while the MTN staff disabled debit notification alerts to unsuspecting victims.

However, Heritage has claimed the report is inaccurate, saying in its signed statement, "We wish to make it clear that Heritage Bank disproves the antics of such blogger, who seems determined to discredit the institution, even to the extent of risking being seen clearly as careless and unprofessional. 

"We consider it our duty to continue to provide our stakeholders with accurate information where it concerns us, as your confidence and support is of utmost importance to us."