Fidelity Bank CEO Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe linked to amnesty fraud

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer designate of Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, has been linked to a fraud discovered in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Onyeali-Ikpe is on the radar of the United States after she manage the accounts reportedly used for the fraud.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme is being investigated by the United States’ Department Of Justice (DOJ) after it was discovered that the head of the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, stole billions of naira. Kuku was appointed to head the Presidential Amnesty Programme in 2011.

During his time, money were reportedly laundered and used to acquire airplanes to start an airline company in Nigeria. Air Peace was established during the same period, but Air Peace has denied any link with Kuku.

How is Onyeali-Ikpe, Air Peace Involved In Amnesty Fraud?

It was reported that the account used to launder the funds was managed by Onyeali-Ikpe. It was gathered that the accounts used to perpetrate the fraud belongs to Allen Onyema, Air Peace’s chairman and other companies. Onyeali-Ikpe had directly managed Onyema’s account while she served as Executive Director of Fidelity Bank.

Most of the bank accounts used for the fraudulent acts were reportedly Fidelity Bank. This led to authorities questioning Onyeali-Ikpe over her involvement in the money laundering. The US DOJ had requested for investigation files of Kuku, Onyema and Chibudom Nwuche, former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, from Nigeria.

The link between Onyeali-Ikpe and the fraud might dent her take over of Fidelity Bank, as she’s expected to step in after Nnamdi Okonkwo retire from the CEO position by December 31, 2020.