EFCC Nabs Abuja Bank Manager For ‘Hoarding’ N29m New Naira Notes
For allegedly hoarding the new Naira notes and causing untold hardship to customers, an Abuja-based bank manager is now cooling his feet in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said on Monday that its operatives on special monitoring of banks in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrested the bank manager who refused loading the new Naira notes into their ATMs despite having about N29 million of the new notes in the bank’s possession.
Uwujaren explained that after making the discovery, the erring manager was arrested while EFCC officials dutifully supervised and ensured the money became accessible to customers who had spent hours in queues without getting the new notes.
According to the anti-graft agency Spokesperson; “This discovery, which indicates a sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks, was made by the EFCC in continuation of the ongoing surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they were deliberately refusing to dispense the redesigned Naira notes.
“More than five bank branches were covered today by the operatives in Abuja. Similar exercises are ongoing in Zonal Commands across the country. The operation will continue until normalcy is restored to the banking system.”
“Nigerians finding it difficult to access their funds at any bank and suspects foul play should contact the Commission, for immediate intervention”, the EFCC statement said.
Meanwhile, some of the banks’ branches in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Monday closed their doors to customers for across-the-counter transactions, no network problem for their actions.
Frustrated customers were seen taking refuge in the canopies provided by the Banks’ management within their premises with the hope that things would improve for them to either access funds or carry out other transactions for the day.
Similarly, cash scarcity due the non-availability of the new Naira notes continues to bite harder as thousands of Nigerians spend hours across ATMs’ queues and banking halls hoping to withdraw money.
However, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s decision to enlist the services of anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC as well as the Department of State Services (DSS) in checkmating what it described as economic sabotage by some banks’ officials has been yielding positive results.
So far, the combined monitoring teams have been busting some syndicates and individuals said to be frustrating the apex bank’s efforts at adequately circulating the new Naira notes nationwide.
