Uzodinma, Kalu deny indebtedness to banks

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

Senator Hope Uzodimma and former Minister of Finance and Transport, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, have faulted their inclusion in the list of chronic bank debtors.

Uzodinma absolved himself from indebtedness to the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, insisting that he has neither borrowed from the bank nor been notified of any indebtedness by FCMB.

Reacting to the list of alleged delinquent debtors released by FCMB on Wednesday, Uzodimma challenged the bank to provide details of his so-called indebtedness to it.

He said companies which he served on their boards and had earlier obtained loans under strict business transactions, had liquidated all such loans and this could be verified by the Credit Bureau Search Portal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Uzodimma accused his political detractors for being behind his listing as a debtor and urged the bank not to allow itself to be used by political detractors.

The Senator urged his detractors who relish in dragging his name to the mould at any given opportunity, to focus on more productive things for the good of the country and Nigerians than denigrating him.

Read also: It’s a big lie, I don’t owe Diamond Bank, says Abike

On his part, Kalu said he ceased being the non-executive chairman of the owing firm, BGL since three years ago “by a decision of its board in my absence.”

In a statement he personally signed, the ex-minister explained that he was later re-assigned to chair the advisory board of the firm that was never set up.

He claimed he didn’t protest or fault the arrangement because “it suited me perfectly.”

Kalu added: “It is therefore not true that I am a director of BGL. SEC can confirm this fact if in any form of doubt.

“Further I can assert, without any fear of contradiction, that I do not owe any bank, any institution, or anybody, a kobo or a dime. And also, I am not a director of any debtor firm.”

Meanwhile, FCMB management has said the inclusion of the names of Globe Energy Resources and its promoter, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni, on its delinquent debtors’ list was done in error.

Ayeni, who is the Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, was listed as the sole director of Globe Energy Resources, which allegedly had a debt overhang of N175.4m.

FCMB said in a statement on Wednesday, “We refer to our publication on the list of delinquent customers, which included the names of Globe Energy Resources and its director, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni.

“The names were included in error, which is regretted, and the Central Bank of Nigeria has been informed of this error.”

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