BAD TIME HITS CECELIA IBRU
…ex-Oceanic Bank MD looks Pale, seeks urgent visit to United States
• Searches for American Investors for family business
• Walter Ofanogoro, ex-Minister sighted at ‘Green Card’ Career Section
• Nigerians on Visas queue express surprise at her ‘failing looks’
BY TOLA AKINOLA/DIPLOMATIC REPORTER, NIGERIA
THIS is surely a difficult time for Cecelia Ibru, a former managing director and chief executive officer of Oceanic Bank Plc, as she was sighted yesterday at the United States Consulate office in Lagos hurriedly hiding under the embassy’s shade when the cloud changed and heavy rain fell in Lagos metropolis at about 9:30am. She was accompanied by a family friend, an ebony-skinned woman who kept barking at the private guards security operatives at the ‘American Citizenship Stand’ in front of the embassy to open the entrance gate for her.
It took frequent effort by Ibru’s family friend and slight protest by this once powerful woman in the banking sector before the entrance gate for American Citizens or ‘Green Card holder’ was opened for her. She looked so weak, pale and her skin color no longer glows the way it used to when she was in charge in Oceanic Bank. Surely, she love Oceanic Bank going by the way she still tied the scarf of the bank around her neck-seeing by most Visas seekers as her evergreen loyalty to the financial institution.
Nigerians wonder aloud at her failing looks
Naija Standard observed that few Nigerians who saw her shook their heads in disgust and wondered what had become of this once beautiful and ever radiant bank executive. Speaking with our correspondent, Imeh Obong, an Akwa Ibom Engineering Lecturer at Niger Delta State University said “It is so shocking to see Cecelia Ibru, the woman who once ruled Oceanic Bank grows so emancipated. Even her skin color looks faded. We hear that Aero Contractor, another family business of hers is facing a trying time with few aircrafts.”
Ibru in search of American Investors for Aero Contractor airline
Naija Standard learnt from one of the private guards (names withheld) that Ibru’s trip to the United States is for her alleged medical treatment and in search of American investors into her family businesses-especially in Aero Contractor airline.
Walter Ofanagoro sets for Conference in America
Naija Standard also observed the presence of Walter Ofanogoro yesterday decked in an ash traditional attire accompanied by a woman relation at the same ‘Green Card Holder Section.’ The woman who accompanied him had to make frequent phone calls to one of the US Visa Counselors who wore a white shirt on black trouser to lead them into the embassy. Our correspondent learnt this Nigeria’s former Minister is set to attend an important conference in ‘God’s own country’ and would not want anything stand his way. That was why he had to show his letter of invitation to the US conference to the private guards by the gate. We shall keep you posted.
