Untold Story As Fidelity Bank Says New CEO Not Investigating Her Predecessor

The management of Fidelity Bank asserts that that new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Nneka Onyeali Ikpe is not investigating her predecessor Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Onyeali-Ikpe officially succeeded Okonkwo on January 1, 2021.

The development made her the first woman to occupy the number one position at the bank.

The checks by societynow.ng revealed that the immediate past Managing Director Okonkwo played a major role in his successor joining the Bank in 2015.

“They had a fantastic relationship when she came on board” societynow.ng learned.

Onyeali- Ikpe who was the Executive Director, Lagos and southwest Directorate of the bank – the position before her appointment as the chief executive officer – justified confidence reposed in her capabilities by Okonkwo and others by spearheading the “transformation of the Directorate, leading it to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28 percent of the Bank’s PBT, Deposits and Loans” according to information available.

“Her exemplary performance as an integral part of the management of Fidelity Bank in the last 6 years and track record before she came on board earned her the current position as Chief Executive Officer. She came highly recommended and justified the confidence reposed” societynow.ng gathered.

Onyeali-Ikpe who holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Kings College, London worked at Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank/Enterprise Bank with experiences spanning top management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking, and Corporate Banking before joining Fidelity Bank.

The checks by societynow.ng revealed that she received a formal commendation from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), as a member of the management team that successfully turned around Enterprise Bank Plc.

Societynow.ng further gathered that her attempt to become more familiar with the operations of the bank to be able to perform better as the Managing Director may be what is “mischievously” slanted as “probe.”

“As the new boss of any institution, even if it was my father that left and I was acting as his deputy before my appointment, it is natural that I take steps to become more familiar with what was to be able to achieve better results” a source opined.

Putting things in context in reaction to reports of the alleged probe of immediate past Managing Director Okonkwo by his successor Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank in a statement signed by the Head Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo brands the “stories” as “false information.”

The bank further explained that “The story is entirely false, malicious and should be discountenanced. Mr Okonkwo served the bank meritoriously as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer between 2014 and 2020 and led his team to achieve impressive results.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors continues to hold Mr Okonkwo in high esteem and wish him well in his future endeavours.”