…Arrests Keystone Bank Manager for Failing to Load Money Into ATM
•••Detain FCMB Officials for Attacking CBN/ICPC Monitoring Team in Oshogbo
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested the Regional Manager and Service Manager of Sterling Bank in Abuja.
The Commission arrested the top bank managers when it uncovered the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million Naira (N258m) stashed in the vault at the head office of the Bank in Abuja.
The Spokesperson of the ICPC, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday night that the discovery was part of the ongoing efforts to ensure bank’s compliance with the the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive on the distribution of the redesigned Naira note to Nigerians.
Ogugua said that the money was found during one of the Commission’s operations to ensure that commercial banks and other interest groups do not flout the apex bank’s directive.
She said that the ICPC team was told that the money stashed in the vault of the bank was the remnant of what the CBN gave to the bank for distribution to the branches.
The statement added that the monitoring team discovered that Sterling Bank distributed only N5 million out of N285 million to the various branches.
She stated further that the arrested the Regional and Service managers are now under administrative bail while investigation continues.
She added that Commission also arrested the operations Manager of Keystone Bank, Mararaba for frustrating customers from getting the new notes and paying only N1000 per day.
She stated further that the ICPC arrested some officials of the FCMB branch at Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo for assaulting the CBN/ICPC Monitoring team.
The ICPC Spokesperson recalled that the same branch of the bank was busted two weeks ago for loading wrapped bank notes inside its ATMs.
“In a similar vein, the Commission has effected the arrest of the Head of Operations, Keystone Bank, Mararaba in Nasarawa State for frustrating its customers at getting the new Naira notes.
“The ICPC team, while on its routine operation, found out that the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the branch were not dispensing to its customers, while other bank customers were accessing only One Thousand Naira.
“It was only after the arrest was made and clarification received from CBN that the position of the officers of the Bank was not correct, that the ATMs started dispensing Five Thousand Naira to non-customers and Ten Thousand Naira to its customers.
“The team also arrested one Abdulkareem Shaibu, a Security Guard with Zenith Bank, 3rd Avenue Gwarimpa, as well as Ali Adam and Shafiu Umar.
“While Shaibu, the Security Guard was arrested for being in possession of five ATM cards which he was using to collect money for different unknown persons who were not within the Bank premises at that time, Adam and Umar were arrested in front of Zenith Bank, 1st Avenue Gwarimpa, for selling the new Naira notes.
“In another development, two officials of FCMB Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo have been taken into custody for assault of officers of ICPC and CBN Cash Swap Monitoring Team.
Recall that it was reported last week that the said branch was caught twice for loading wrapped bank notes inside its ATMs.
“The team, on a follow up visit to ascertain the bank’s compliance level, was assaulted right inside the Branch Manager’s office by the bank officials who vehemently refused to allow ICPC carry out its lawful duty, and then held hostage for about two hours.
“By the time the reinforcement of Police and NSCDC officers arrived the scene of the incident, the masterminds of the assaults had gone into hiding, leading to the arrest of two bank officers who were also complicit.” She added
The starting discovery reinforces President Buhari’s comment that the banks are frustrating the smooth implementation of the Naira redesign policy.
The President was also quoted to have said that the banks were not patriotic and that even if a year extension is given the situation would not change.
“Some banks are inefficient and only concerned about themselves”, said the President, “even if a year is added, problems associated with selfishness and greed won’t go away.”
Many view the President’s comments to mean that he is not inclined to back out of the crucial policy.