The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has denied claims credited to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Senator Ayo Akinyelure alleging the bank’s involvement and the indictment of its chairman Tony Elumelu in a N41 billion NITEL fraud.
In a letter made available to Qed.ng on Monday, Mr Elumelu’s lawyers demanded a public apology and retraction of the claim within seven days of receipt of the letter or face legal action.
The said reports credited to Akinyelure alleged the amount was withdrawn “systematically from NITEL for nine years” under the leadership of the UBA.
“Our Client is shocked by this false, baseless, and mischievous allegation as neither him nor any of the organisations associated with him has ever been involved in or indicted for any fraud as was falsely alleged by Senator Ayo Akinyelure,” the letter by Elumelu’s lawyers read.
“Our Client is also alarmed and appalled by this deliberate peddling of falsehood and misinformation against an unblemished personal and business reputation, painstakingly built by our Client over several decades with great personal sacrifice and unquestionable integrity.
“Our Client has instructed us to, and we have demanded an immediate open, public and unreserved retraction of the said statements credited to Senator Akinyelure and an apology from Senator Akinyelure for this false allegation and defamation of our Client,” it added.
Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Kennedy Uzoka is due to appear before the Senate committee on Wednesday.
