Back in the day when she was the ‘first lady’ of Nigeria’s banking industry commanding the respect of many as the Managing Director/CEO of defunct Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru, was also the toast of high-octane party scenes. She only needed to appear at ones’ party for it to be labeled as upscale and exclusive. Such was the enormous influence she wielded. She was on first name terms with many high-profile individuals until she suffered a reversal of fate, hit by a Tsunami created by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, deposed Emir of Kano, when he was at the helm of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
From serving a six-month jail term, to being asked to refund about N1.2 billion for allegedly committing a multi-billion-dollar banking fraud, to having over 100 of her properties located in Dubai, United States and Nigeria, confiscated. Ibru suffered a fate she wouldn’t have wished on her enemies. She has since picked up the pieces of her life after recoiling into her shell and examining what is left of her life. She is now gradually returning to the party scene where she once held sway. She was one of the numerous high-profile guests of Wale Tinubu, the boss of Oando Plc at his mother, Hajia Bintu-Fatima Tinubu’s 80th birthday party. She didn’t betray any emotion of someone who had been humiliated. In fact, she was vivacious as many approached her where she was seated to either exchange pleasantries with her or pay homage to her.
Nowadays, she keeps busy running her private university, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State. Also, two of her sons who were a recurring decimal on the party scene but had to retreat, following the fate that befell their mother, accompanied her to the party. The two, who held important positions in the defunct Oceanic Bank, have made something of themselves. While Oboden who has had stints in Oando, Aero Contractors is currently the Acting Managing Director/CEO of Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Mamemo is currently the Managing Director and member of the Board of Directors of Ibafon Oil Nigeria Ltd, a 31 million litre capacity Tank Farm owned by his family.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
