Obi denies secretly meeting Tinubu over ‘N225bn’ Fidelity Bank debt

Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate, says he did not hold a secret meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome to discuss a Fidelity Bank debt crisis.

BACKGROUND

Obi was reacting to reports that he held a private meeting with Tinubu over a judgment debt involving the bank.

On Monday, a report had alleged that Fidelity Bank faced insolvency following a supreme court judgment requiring the bank to pay damages of N225 billion to a Nigerian firm.

In a statement, Meksley Nwagboh, Fidelity’s divisional head of brand and communications, clarified that the case in question originated from the legacy operations of FSB International Bank, which Fidelity Bank had acquired.

The spokesperson added that in 2018, the Lagos high court awarded judgment in favour of Sagecom against G. Cappa and the bank, noting that the verdict was challenged at the supreme court.

He said Fidelity Bank has petitioned the supreme court for clarification on the judgment’s interpretation and accurate computation of the payable amount.

‘BLACKMAIL MERCHANTS’

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Obi said the rumour was fabricated by “blackmail merchants” determined to mislead Nigerians and tarnish his image.

“It’s obvious that the biggest business for blackmailers now is talking about Peter Obi from every negative perspective,” he said.

“Even my solemn spiritual trip to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.”

He said the claim that he met Tinubu privately at The Vatican is “baseless, malicious, and entirely false”.

“Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office,” he said.

“The only encounter was about a one-minute meeting at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, where I was seated behind and had to respectfully greet him and other dignitaries present.”

Obi added that he was in Rome on May 9 for the lying-in-state of Pope Francis, and left Vatican City immediately after the mass to travel to London, before returning to Nigeria.

‘I DON’T OWN FIDELITY BANK’

He also refuted claims that he owns Fidelity Bank.

“For the record, I do not own Fidelity Bank. Throughout my career, I have served as chairman/director of three banks/financial institutions, of which Fidelity is one,” Obi said.

“Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake. What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hardworking Nigerians and cause them needless distress.

“To those peddling these falsehoods, and engaging in blackmail, I offer a simple prayer: May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing, and that they cannot profit from their evil ways.”