More than two years after the closure of Heritage Bank, aggrieved depositors have called on the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to ensure the immediate release of their legitimate funds. They say prolonged delays have left thousands of Nigerians facing severe financial hardship.
The Central Bank revoked the bank’s operating licence and shut Heritage Bank Plc on 3 June 2024, citing its inability to improve poor financial performance and the absence of realistic prospects of recovery. The apex bank then appointed the NDIC as liquidator to manage the bank’s assets and refund depositors.
Depositors Say Funds Still Inaccessible
Two years later, depositors organised under the Concerned Heritage Bank Depositors Forum issued a statement asserting that their money has still not been refunded. In a release titled “Our Money, Our Right: Pay Heritage Bank Depositors Their Full Funds Now,” the group said many account holders have been unable to access their savings for months. The funds, they stressed, represent earnings built up through years of work, sacrifice and careful financial planning.
The depositors said the issue had moved beyond a simple banking dispute. Families, they argued, were being forced to bear the real consequences of locked funds. Obligations such as school fees, medical expenses, business capital and retirement needs had all been affected. Parents were struggling to meet educational costs, patients could not afford medical bills, entrepreneurs had working capital trapped, and pensioners depended on their retirement savings for basic survival.
Call for Support and Justice
Describing the matter as one of “trust, dignity and economic justice,” the group appealed to the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to back their campaign for what they termed financial justice. They warned that further delays would only deepen the hardship experienced by those affected.
“Behind every trapped account is a Nigerian family facing real hardship. Let’s join hands to push the campaigns. Justice delayed is hardship prolonged. Nigerians had saved responsibly and institutions must equally act responsibly in resolving the matter,” the depositors said.
Their central message remained clear: “We saved responsibly. They must pay responsibly.”
