By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, has taken legal action against those it said were fighting hard to stain its reputation.
In a statement, the lender said it had no option but to seek legal redress because of its strong belief in the nation’s judiciary.
It said for a while, false articles were being sponsored by some persons through the media to create a negative “narrative about the GTCO brand and its management,” noting that it was forced to take “swift and decisive legal actions” to “safeguard its reputation,” which has been synonymous with class.
The financial services provider urged its customers and stakeholders to continue to keep faith in it and disregard all the incessant release of false news reports on its business activities and others.
“Based on the incessant release of false news reports on GTCO’s business activities, results and its management team, it has become necessary to set the records straight and dispel attempts by certain groups to create a false narrative about the GTCO brand and its management.
“The false news articles which are being sponsored using the media, centre around baseless allegations against the group’s business activities and its executive management.
“Being a responsible corporate citizen and a first-class institution, GTCO Plc has taken swift and decisive legal actions against the various sources of these false reports and will continue to use the full extent of the rule of law available to safeguard its reputation.
“We urge all our customers, shareholders and stakeholders to kindly disregard all the allegations being peddled through various media platforms and handles.
“All of our executive management team continue to operate in their full capacities as appointed and are not under any financial or regulatory scrutiny as alleged,” the statement read.