Heritage Bank on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 refuted reports that it is facing “dissolution” by the Central Bank of Nigeria over the bank’s financial health.
Online tabloid, Sahara Reporters had tweeted that the youngest bank in Nigeria, was “next in line” for a takeover by the Central Bank following the apex bank’s action against Skye Bank on Monday. The website claimed that Heritage Bank is owned by Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki.
FLASH: @bukolasaraki's @heritagebankltd is next in line for management/board disollution and takeover by @cenbank
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 4, 2016
In reaction, Heritage Bank issued a statement calling the tweet by Sahara Reporters as “obnoxious” and called the story falsehood and “at best, reckless journalism meant to destroy the emerging bank”.
“Our attention has been drawn to an obnoxious tweet by a news blog, Sahara Reporters, which has alluded to the fact that the Management and Board of Heritage Bank is “next in line” for dissolution by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” the statement published on the bank’s website on Monday, July 4, 2016.
“This is falsehood and at best reckless journalism meant to destroy the emerging bank. For the avoidance of doubt, the Central Bank of Nigeria has no such plan towards the bank.
“Consequently, Heritage Bank wishes to encourage customers of the bank and the general public to disregard the wicked misinformation, clearly borne out of the imagination of the mischief makers and continue enjoying the excellent service the bank is rendering to its growing clientele.
“Heritage Bank will not also sit back and allow its hard earned reputation to be tarnished on the pages of an irresponsible blog,” the bank threatened.
“The bank will also leave no stone unturned to ensure that those peddling unfounded rumours and speculations are brought to book.”
