Depositors of the recently liquidated Heritage Bank have urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in their plight, as they continue to grapple with unpaid deposits following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) revocation of the bank’s license on June 3, 2024.
Addressing journalists in Aba, coordinator of the group of depositors with funds exceeding ₦5 million, Chief Offor Okorie, highlighted the devastating impact of the situation.
According to him, over 200 depositors have reportedly died due to hunger, stress-induced heart attacks, and failed businesses, while others are hospitalised and unable to support their families.
Okorie appealed to President Tinubu to compel the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to pay depositors in full without delay.
“Despite previous assurances from the CBN that Heritage Bank was not in distress, depositors have been abandoned, unable to access their life savings,” he said.
The group also expressed frustration over what they described as unequal treatment by the CBN, citing the recent merger between Unity Bank and Providus Bank, which ensured a smooth transition of deposits, and questioned why Heritage Bank depositors were not afforded similar consideration.
Okorie concluded by proposing that the CBN extend a loan to the NDIC to facilitate immediate payments, noting that this move would alleviate financial hardship, restore confidence in the banking system, and protect the stability of Nigeria’s financial sector.
