CBN Sack: First Bank Constitutes 11 New Board Members To Direct Its Affairs

First Bank Plc has constituted a new eleven man board members to replace the old board sacked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday.

The apex bank had fired the entire members of the board of First Bank Nigeria Ltd and First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc.

According to the bank in a statement on Friday, the Board of Directors of First Bank of Nigeria Limited is now comprised as follows:
1. Mr. Tunde Hassan-Odukale – Chairman
2. Mrs. Tokunbo Martins
3. Mr. Uche Nwokedi
4. Mr. Adekunle Sonola
5. Ms. Isioma Ogodazi
6. Mr. Ebenezer Olufowose
7. Mr. Ishaya Elijah B. Dodo
8. Dr. Adesola Adeduntan FCA – Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer
9. Mr. Gbenga Shobo – Deputy Managing Director
10. Dr. Remi Oni – Executive Director
11. Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim – Executive Director

It will be recall that the apex bank earlier queried the Board of the bank for removing Adesola Adeduntan as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and appointing Gbenga Shobo as MD/CEO designate without regulatory approval.

The CBN had also faulted the appointment of Abdullahi Ibrahim as deputy managing director, as well as the appointment of Ini Ebong, Segun Alebiosu, Seyi Oyefeso and Bashirat Odunewu, as executive directors.

Consequently, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced the sacking of all members of the board of the bank for the supposed affront.

He however, reinstated Adeduntan as the MD/CEO of the bank.

The bank statement further read thus:
We refer to the Central Bank of Nigeria Limited (CBN) pronouncement on the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of First Bank of Nigeria Limited.

Further to the press conference held by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele CON on Thursday, 29 April 2021, the Boards of FBN Holdings Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Limited were dissolved and reconstituted, pursuant to its power under Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan has since resumed work as CEO in line with the directives of the CBN.
We can confirm that the Bank is cooperating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulators while the operations of the Bank are not hampered or hindered in any way and are in fact running smoothly.

We further wish to reassure the public, our esteemed customers and stakeholders in the words of the Governor of the Central Bank in concluding his press conference, “The CBN hereby reassures the depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of the bank of its commitment to ensuring the stability of the financial system. There is therefore no cause for panic amongst the banking public, given that the actions being taken are meant to strengthen the Bank and position it as a banking industry giant.”