The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Monday, clarified the decision to discontinue a criminal case against the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe.
The clarification came in a statement issued by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity (Office of the AGF), in response to public concerns and media reports suggesting that the federal government deliberately dropped Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe’s name from an ongoing multi-billion-naira fraud case.
According to the AGF’s office, the charges against her were withdrawn following a thorough legal review, which found no sufficient evidence directly linking her to the alleged offence.
The statement stressed that the decision was guided strictly by the law, prosecutorial discretion, and the interest of justice — not external pressure or interference.
The case was reportedly initiated by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation before the Federal High Court in Lagos, naming lawyer Victor Ukutt, Whoba Ugwunna Ogo (said to be at large), Fidelity Bank Plc, and Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as defendants. They were accused of the alleged unlawful conversion of N19 billion belonging to Woobs Resources Limited.
However, according to reports, the AGF filed an amended 10-count charge on May 5, 2025, in which Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe’s name was removed and replaced with that of Safiya Whoba.
This development sparked public scrutiny, prompting the AGF’s office to issue a formal clarification.
The AGF’s spokesperson stated, “The Attorney General’s decision to discontinue the criminal charge against Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, is a testament to the office’s commitment to upholding justice and fairness.”
He stated that, in his capacity as the chief law officer of the federation, the Attorney General has the constitutional authority to withdraw criminal charges when such action is necessary to uphold justice and prevent a miscarriage of justice.
“This decision followed a careful review of the case, which did not connect Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe to the charge, as she was neither the account officer nor the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank when the account used in the alleged scheme of fraud was opened,” he said.
The official emphasized that the Attorney General’s decision was guided by the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law, expressing confidence that the action serves the best interest of both justice and the public.
The statement further clarified that the removal of Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe from the case does not absolve Fidelity Bank of the allegations outlined in the charge, which remains before the court.
Instead, it reflects the Attorney General’s responsibility to ensure that prosecutions are pursued only where evidence supports them, in line with the pursuit of true justice.