FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has reacted to some media reports of an allegation of forgery against its managing director, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan and other officials of the bank.

In a statement by the bank made available to lagoscityreporters.com, it describes  “as spurious, allegation made by a delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the bank and tainting the bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.”

FirstBank further said that “it operates by the highest standards of ethical conduct and will under no circumstances involve itself in any act of illegality just as it will take necessary legal steps to check any attempt by recalcitrant debtors to fritter away depositors; funds under its custody.

The prosecution claimed that the defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.

“Furthermore, FirstBank remains focused on its mission of providing the best financial services to its numerous customers,” the statement added.

Some online newspapers had reported that the federal government had filed charges against the FirstBank boss, the Utako branch manager of bank in Abuja and two lawyers, Muftau Ande and Dibiaezue Chuks before a federal high court in Abuja, for allegedly forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.