Tribunal fixes Sept 12 for definite hearing
THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has denied reports in a section of the media (The Guardian not inclusive) that it had closed two bank accounts maintained by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Oceanic Bank and Mainstreet Bank.
Besides, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja yesterday fixed September 12, 2011 for a definite hearing of the petition filed by the CPC, seeking to void the victory of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the April 2011 polls.
The four-man panel presided over by Justice Garba Mohammed fixed the date after presenting the report of the pre-hearing session, which consumed four of the six months stipulated by the 1999 Constitution as amended, within which to conclude all election petitions. The panel will be sitting from Mondays to Saturdays until the petition is determined.
A statement by the Head of Communications and Public Affairs Unit (CPAU) of the NDIC, Alhaji Hadi Birchi, described the reports as misleading and embarrassing to the NDIC and asked members of the public to discountenance them, as they were not true.
"The NDIC hereby categorically declares that the reports which are capable of misleading the public on the subject are false in every material particular.
"The correct position is that on the 22nd August, 2011, the NDIC received a petition dated the 16th day of August, 2011 from the law firm of Aliyu Marama & Co. of No. 33 Lingu Crescent, off Aminu Kanu Crescent, Wuse II, acting as Solicitor to Senator Rufa'i Sani Hanga, Alhaji Badmos Mutalif, Abduldulwahab Adebajo Adeleke and Chief Denis Aghanya, the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Financial Secretary and National Publicity Secretary, respectively of the CPC.
"The petitioner alleged that the accounts of the CPC, which their clients opened in 2010 at Mainstreet Bank Limited, UAC Building, First Bank Plc, Area 3, 2nd Branch, Garki and Oceanic Bank Plc, Maitama Branch, all in Abuja were being operated by signatories other than their said clients and all their efforts to get the affected banks to explain their action had not been successful. They therefore appealed to the corporation to intervene in the matter.
"Pursuant to its statutory powers as supervisor of the affected banks, the corporation dispatched its examiners to investigate the complaint with a view to determining the appropriate measures to take to resolve the matter. The NDIC examiners visited the banks concerned on Monday, September 5, 2011 to commence investigation and their report is being finalised. However, the NDIC did not at any time close the accounts of the CPC at those banks as falsely reported by the four newspapers. Rather, part of the findings of the NDIC examiners was that withdrawal from the account of the CPC at First Bank Plc was suspended by the bank following its policy which stipulates such procedure for any account wherein a dispute arises between officers and directors of the account holder. The CPC was duly notified of this development by the bank vide letter dated August 25, 2011 which the CPC acknowledged on the same date. Furthermore, information available to the NDIC indicated that as at 5th September, 2011 when the NDIC examiners commenced investigation at Mainstreet Bank Limited and Oceanic Bank Plc, the accounts of the CPC in those banks were still in operation."
The Guardian