NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - A former managing director

at Citigroup ( C/PN ) sued the bank and its chief operating officer

on Wednesday, alleging she was fired for opposing what she said

were attempts to give regulators false information.

Kathleen Martin, a former managing director Citi hired in

2021 to help with data issues, said in a lawsuit filed in a New

York district federal court that her supervisor COO Anand Selva

wanted her to hide "critical information" from the Office of the

Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) about the bank's data

governance metrics.

Speaking for the bank and Selva, a Citigroup ( C/PN ) spokesperson

said in a statement "this lawsuit is without merit and we will

vigorously defend against it."

OCC did not immediately provide comment.

The lawsuit alleges that Selva wanted to hide information

because it would make the bank "look bad."

Selva urged Martin to falsely tell the regulator that Citi

had achieved particular goals when it had not, the lawsuit

alleged.

Martin was fired in Sept. 25, 2023, in retaliation for her

complaints, it said.

The data governance work was related to a 2020 OCC consent

order, according to the lawsuit.

OCC and the Federal Reserve in 2020 directed the bank to fix

longstanding and widespread deficiencies in its risk management,

data governance and internal controls.

Martin's attorney, Valdi Licul from law firm Wigdor LLP,

said in a statement that her client "at all times acted to

protect Citi's interests."

She is urging the court to reinstate her with the same

seniority status and is seeking back pay, including bonuses.

The case is Martin v. Citibank NA et al, U.S. District

Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-03949.