Zenith Bank Disowns Fake Video of Jim Ovia Promoting Scam

Zenith Bank PLC has officially distanced itself from a manipulated video circulating on social media that falsely portrays its group chairman, Jim Ovia, endorsing a fraudulent investment scheme. The bank issued a disclaimer via its official Twitter handle on Tuesday, clarifying that the video, which promises returns of N2 million weekly for an initial investment of N380,000, is entirely false.

The scheme claims to be backed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Zenith Bank cautioned the public to disregard the video and any related fraudulent material, emphasizing that engaging with such platforms is at one's own risk.

The bank's warning follows a recent alert from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, regarding similar AI-generated videos promoting investment schemes. Zenith Bank reiterated its advice to verify investment opportunities through official and credible channels.

Additionally, the bank reported a pre-tax profit of N917.4 billion for Q3 2025, reflecting a 6% increase from N275.8 billion in Q3 2024.