Nigeria Content Online

Mobile phone text
messages warning customers to withdraw their money from Oceanic,
Intercontinental and Unity banks, circulated last Friday, causing a
stir.

“If you know anyone
that has money in Oceanic, Unity and Intercontinental Bank, tell them
to go and withdraw their money because information reaching us is that
they may go in distress soon,” a version of the text message read.

Investigations
revealed that the text message probably went out because the three
banks reporteldy laid off a large number of staff without due process.

Oceanic Bank issued a press statement saying that the text message was the handiwork of mischief makers.

“The management of
Oceanic Bank has flayed misleading text messages on purported
liquidation notice served on some banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria
as the handiwork of mischief makers,” it read.

It stressed that
there was no truth in the purported liquidation notice as no bank
operating in the country was under any threat of liquidation by the
Central Bank. The bank’s management refuted claims of retrenchment,
adding that its inclusion among banks to be picketed as reported in the
newspapers was based on misinformation to labour leaders.

Mohammed Abdullahi, the Central Bank’s spokesperson, equally said that there is no truth in the text message.

“The Central Bank
wishes to state categorically that no such liquidation notice has been
issued and there is therefore no plan to liquidate any of the three
banks and members of the public are advised to disregard these
messages,” Mr. Abdullahi said. “All depositors and customers of
Oceanic, Intercontinental and Unity banks are hereby advised to
continue to conduct their business with the banks,” he added in a
statement issued last Friday.

In other news, the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance
and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) said it would continue on its
planned strike, expected to take off on Tuesday,