Fidelity Bank Plc is yet again embroiled in another messy Scandal as video footage of its Managing Director admitting to paying a humongous sum of money to avoid Police Detention has emerged online.
In the leaked video seen by POLITICS NIGERIA, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Nneka C. Onyeali‑Ikpe, acknowledged that she paid ₦5 billion to secure her release from police custody amid a multi‑billion‑naira fraud investigation.
The footage captures Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe speaking with a long‑standing customer, identified only as Uba, who has had an account with the bank since 2003.
Uba had complained that his account was frozen and all his contact details “including my phone number and email” deactivated without warning. “I thought it was important to get your number as the Managing Director,” he told her. “I no longer have access to my account.”
In response, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe confirmed the bank’s legal woes and her own narrow escape from detention.
“I was almost arrested — I had to bail myself out. Our staff spent nights in police custody because of this issue. I even had to spend ₦5 billion to secure bail and defend the bank,” she said. She added that the bank had given Uba “a 14‑day deadline to return to the country so we could resolve the matter,” but received no reply.
When Uba pressed for clarity, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe concluded, “We’re now being charged with conspiracy and misappropriation—things we know nothing about. It’s not fair to the bank either.”
The revelations come against the backdrop of Charge No: FHC/L/138C/2025, filed in February 2025 at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is prosecuting four defendants—lawyer Victor Ukutt, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe, and Whoba Ugwunna Ogo (at large)—for allegedly conspiring to convert ₦19 billion belonging to Woobs Resources Limited.
Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe was originally named in three counts under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act but was removed from the indictment in an amended 10‑count charge filed May 5, 2025. Her name was replaced with Safiya Whoba. The current Defendants in the charge are: Victor Ukutt, Esq, Fidelity Bank Plc, Whoba Ugwunna Ogo and Safiya Whoba as 1st to 4th Defendants respectively.
The Attorney‑General’s office later clarified her removal, stating she “was neither the account officer nor the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank when the account in question was opened.”
Earlier, Fidelity Bank and Dr. Onyeali‑Ikpe filed a counter‑affidavit asserting a prior agreement with the complainants “not to initiate or make any complaint to law enforcement agents” against the bank—a promise they say the prosecution has now “breached to its detriment.”
LEAKED VIDEO: Fidelity Bank CEO, Onyeali Ikpe ‘Confesses’ to paying N5 Billion to avoid Police Detention pic.twitter.com/WY0lmuwKuu
— Politics Nigeria (@PoliticsNGR) June 16, 2025
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
