July 20, 2004
First National Bank of Mogutu
Announces $20 Million Benefactor
MOGUTU, Nigeria (July 20, 2004) -- The First National Bank of Mogutu (FNBM) announced today that it has ended its worldwide search for a benefactor has been found for the US$20 million in unclaimed funds. Theresa R. McGibbons of Bentonville, NJ, will maintain the small fortune following a transfer ceremony to be held at the bank's provisional offices here on Thursday.
"We are very pleased to make this announcement, and look forward to working with Mrs. McGibbons," said Dr. Joseph Mbese, president of FNBM. "This is a banner day for our bank, after months of searching."
McGibbons, a retired schoolteacher, was contacted by bank officials as part of FNBM's worldwide search, via email, for a benefactor for the unclaimed funds. The money was found in anonymous accounts uncovered after the recent civil unrest in the area.
"My 32 years experience working with second and third graders has taught me that trust is of utmost importance in any interpersonal relationship, whether in a classroom or in business," said McGibbons. "I feel deeply honored that the First National Bank of Mogutu has recognized my trustworthiness by selecting me for this important duty."
Under the terms of the agreement, the funds will be transfered to McGibbon's bank account in one lump sum. McGibbons agreed to assume responsibility for transaction fees totalling $16,000, and has opened up a bond account with FNBM, the balance of which was not released.
Dr. Mbese noted that, as McGibbons has already opened the account, the transaction may be completed immediately. Although she will not be attending the transfer ceremony due to prior engagements, McGibbons has authorized Dr. Mbese to complete the transaction on her behalf.
"We thank Mrs. McGibbons for agreeing to work with us in our time of need," Dr. Mbese said. "We anticipate this to be the beginning of an unprecidented time of prosperity for our organization, and plan to continue the search for a benefactor for the $14,500,000 in Nigerian Federal Bonds recently discovered in an unmarked deposit box."
The First National Bank of Mogutu was founded in 1996 as the premiere Internet-based financial institution in Nigeria. Its board of directors includes Dr. Mbese, Prince Franklin Atu and Mrs. Lauretia Johston, wife of the former president of the Federal Bank of Nigeria, Ahmed Johston. Its provisional offices are located at 419 W. Mogabe St., Unit 4-J, in Mogutu.
Their selection criteria must've been pretty stringent. I replied and went through a minor dialog with a representative - Andrew Ndugu, if I recall - only to be blown off after about the third email. I must not have been up to their standards. Congratulations to McGibbons, though.
Posted by: bran at July 22, 2004 09:53 AMHa ha.
Those emails are so weird to me, but I guess people fall for them or they wouldn't be sent out. In the past few months, I've received very similar requests by snail mail from Spain. International junk mail.