It is no longer
news that the convicted former Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank PLC, Mrs
Cecilia Ibru has completed her six months prison term. What is however
exclusive is that the former banker is now starting a new life at Aero
Contractors, an airline wholly owned by the Ibru family. It would be recalled
that Mrs. Ibru was convicted of bank and securities fraud on October 8, 2010 by
a former chief judge of the federal high court, Justice Dan Abutu in Lagos
after she was arrested, detained and arraigned in court on a 25 count charge by
the Farida Waziri-led EFCC. Beside her plea bargain induced conviction, Cecilia
forfeited over N190 billion assets to the government. The forfeited assets are
now being managed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. It
would also be remembered that while her bank, Oceanic Bank PLC where the Ibrus
have the controlling shares has been sold to Ecobank PLC, the Chartered
Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) last December 2011banned her from the
banking profession by striking out her name. Still trying to come to terms with
her new lifestyle, we reliably scooped that she has no option but to step into
the family airline business where she presently controls the affairs of the 51
years old Aero Contractors airline. A competent source in the airline who
confirmed the development said “madam has since last year 2011 resumed here in
our local airport office after a major restructuring that saw Captain Akinlawon
George emerged as the MD late last year. Though Captain George is the MD but
madam (Cecilia) is the ultimate or final approving authority as we speak.”
Responding to another question, the top Aero official added that “madam does
not really come everyday because of health issues and to avoid being seen
frequently by passengers, but more often than not she spends quality time in
the office two or three times a week.”.
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