 and Minister of Justice has officially withdrawn criminal charges previously filed){kind=link}
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has officially withdrawn criminal charges previously filed against Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. This development follows a thorough legal review which concluded that Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe had no direct involvement in the allegations under investigation.
In a statement issued on Monday by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the AGF, the decision to drop the charges was made in line with constitutional provisions and the pursuit of justice.
According to the statement, “The Attorney General’s decision to discontinue the criminal charge against Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is a testament to the office’s commitment to upholding justice and fairness.” It emphasized that the AGF acted within his constitutional authority to issue a nolle prosequi—a formal notice of withdrawal from prosecution—when such action is necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice.
The charges were related to a fraudulent financial operation involving a bank account that was allegedly used in a scheme well before Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe assumed her current position at Fidelity Bank. The AGF’s office clarified that she neither served as the account officer nor held the role of Managing Director at the time the questionable account was created and used.
Despite the withdrawal of charges against Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe, the AGF was quick to note that Fidelity Bank as a corporate entity is still subject to ongoing legal proceedings. “This decision does not exculpate Fidelity Bank from the allegations contained in the charge, which is still pending before the court,” the statement noted, reinforcing that legal accountability remains in place for institutions.
The Attorney General urged members of the public to refrain from drawing premature conclusions or engaging in speculation. He stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold independently and fairly. “The Office of the Attorney General remains committed to the rule of law. Anyone found culpable at any point will face the full weight of the law, as a necessary deterrent,” the statement concluded.