NDIC to begin sale of Heritage Bank assets December 4

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says the sale of Heritage Bank assets will begin on December 4, 2024.

In a statement on Sunday, Bashir Nuhu, NDIC’s director of communication and public affairs, said the commission has started the process to sell off landed properties belonging to the defunct bank.

Nuhu said the exercise conforms to the corporation’s statutory powers as the liquidator of failed banks in the country.

He said interested bidders should submit bids at designated NDIC offices in Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.

“In a bid to ensure timely declaration of liquidation dividends to uninsured depositors of the failed Heritage Bank, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced process for the sale of landed properties of the defunct bank,” the statement reads.

“The exercise is pursuant to the Corporation’s statutory powers as liquidator of failed banks under section 62 (1)(d) of the NDIC Act, 2023.

“The sale of assets is by competitive bidding and will take place at the 36 affected locations of the bank across the country, from Wednesday 4th December, 2024.

“Buyers who wish to participate in the auction are expected to follow laid down guidelines aimed at ensuring transparency, fair competition, equity and accountability to enable recovery of commensurate values from the exercise. This is vital for the payment of liquidation dividends to eligible claimants.

“In order to allow the continuation of provision of financial services to the Nigerian public at the locations of the closed bank towards bolstering financial inclusion, preference shall be given to financial institutions who are willing to buy any of the properties at the highest auctioned prices along with all the physical assets at wholesale value.”

‘CORPORATE BODIES, PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BID’

Nuhu said corporate bodies and private individuals interested in the bidding are eligible to participate without prejudice, assuring that the auction will be open and competitive to all bidders.

He added that bidders will be allowed to inspect the properties and chattels across all locations prior to disposal.

“For full details check our website, social media platforms and Newspapers,” Nuhu said.

On June 3, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the licence of Heritage Bank Plc with immediate effect.

The regulator, in a statement, said the revocation was necessary due to the bank’s inability to improve its financial performance, a situation which constitutes a threat to financial stability.

Following the revocation, the NDIC announced the commencement of verification and payment to depositors.

At a media briefing on June 5, Bello Hassan, NDIC’s managing director, promised to settle insured customers within one week, adding that the total bank deposits at Heritage Bank stood at N650 billion while its loan portfolio was above N700 billion.

Hassan said the bank’s total depositors are 2.3 million, with 99 percent of them having total balances of less than N5 million.

On June 13, the NDIC announced the national listing of the bank’s assets for sale, including 48 properties and various chattels such as vehicles, office equipment, plant and machinery located in 62 locations nationwide.