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FCMB OF FRAUD: How Nine Bank Officials Abscond With N.6 billion Customers’ Deposits

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6 years ago

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These are very bad times for customers of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) as the bank appears to have lost its security edge over their competitors. In what some industry observers have termed the biggest theft of customers’ deposit, nine members of the bank staff have made away with a total sum of N500 million, and their whereabouts remain unknown, though the Nigeria Police have secured an arrest warrant from a magistrate court in Lagos to effect the arrest of the suspected fraudulent staff fingered in the heist.

The names of the bankers as declared wanted by the Police include Linda Natufe Chekwube, Matthew Akpan Benny, Juwon Faromoh, Oluwasoji Ajetumobi, Ogunlaja Olasukanmi Ganiyu, Oshiojum Chibuzor Wilson, Akanaga Christian Chika and Nelson Omuzagha and Adeyemi Omitogun.

The suspects have been found to fleece depositors of their earned money through numerous crafty means. Ogunlaja and Chekwube were found to have fraudulently authorised overdraft totalling three hundred and eighty eight million naira (N388 million). Another duo was discovered to have fraudulently transferred customers’ monies to other accounts and closed the accounts without consent or authorisation from the accounts’ holders while others blatantly stole customers’ deposits undetected by the bank, which is fast becoming a safe haven for fraudsters perpetrating sophisticated scams.

FCMB customers’ accounts have continued to experience systematic theft for quite some time. Not a few industry watchers now cast aspersion on the Adam Nuru-led bank’s claims of being one of the most trustworthy financial institutions in Nigeria. Only recently, a staffer of the bank, Adejare Sonde (now relieved of his job), was arraigned on 12-count charge bordering on stealing N124 million of a depositor’s account.

The case was instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at a State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Sonde was accused of using his position as the account officer to a micro-finance bank to steal N124 million from the customer’s account. The petitioner, EFCC, alleged that Sonde collected cash from the micro-finance bank on several occasions totaling N124 million which were not credited into the customer’s account.

Further investigations revealed that the defendant (Sonde) allegedly doctored emails which he sent to the micro-finance bank as monthly statements of account, while there was no remittance in the account.
In the same vein, two officials of the bank, identified as Walter Ekomaye and Ebenezer Adelowo, were also arraigned on January 19, 2018, for allegedly making an illegal withdrawal of N23 million from customers’ accounts and stealing N17.5 million from Automated Teller Machine (ATM) deposits.

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News and Report

Zenith Bank Assures Customers on Seamless Transactions, Apologizes for Disruptions During Infrastructure Upgrade

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2 mins ago

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October 3, 2024

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Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Zenith Bank, has reassured its customers of improved services following recent infrastructure upgrades.

 

In a message posted on Thursday, the bank apologised for the service disruptions experienced across its e-channels during the upgrade period.

 

The bank clarified that the glitches were a result of routine information and technology maintenance, which is essential for optimizing service delivery.

 

Zenith Bank emphasized its commitment to ensuring 100% uptime, stating that it takes this responsibility “very personally” and continuously allocates resources to maintain uninterrupted service availability.

 

In the statement, the bank expressed its sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused to customers during the upgrade process, highlighting that the information technology enhancements are designed to improve the quality of service for its esteemed clientele.

 

The message reads in part:

 

Dear Valued Customer,

 

We sincerely apologise for the service disruptions you experienced recently on our banking channels. This was due to an information Technology upgrade aimed at improving the quality of service we provide.

 

We have made significant progress with the upgrade and you can now perform transactions conveniently with the following Zenith bank Channels:

 

Your Zenith Bank Debit Card

The Zenith Bank Mobile App

The Zenith bank Internet Banking Platform

Zenith Agents nationwide (Agent Banking)

 

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News and Report

Just In: Tinubu Set To Embark on  Two-weeks Annual Leave.

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20 hours ago

on

October 2, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a two-week annual leave

 

According to Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, part of his yearly leave.

 

He will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.

 

He will return to the country after the leave expires.

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News and Report

Alleged Corruption : El-Rufai denies allegations, vow to swear on Quran….

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1 day ago

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October 2, 2024

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A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has asserted that his entry into politics was driven solely by a desire to serve the people, not to amass wealth or siphon public funds.

 

El-Rufai made this declaration on Tuesday during a Hausa program aired on Freedom Radio, Kaduna.

 

Speaking candidly, the former governor dismissed allegations of financial misconduct during his administration, maintaining that he was already financially content before assuming office.

 

The Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier indicted El-Rufai’s administration for the misappropriation of over N423 billion during his eight-year tenure.

 

 

However, El-Rufai and his associates have categorically denied the accusations, labeling them as politically motivated.

 

“I did not join politics to steal money or enrich myself. I was satisfied with what I had before becoming governor,” El-Rufai stated, adding that he is ready to swear on the Quran to prove his innocence if other former governors and current leaders do the same.

 

 

“I have always prayed for guidance in all I do, and I strive not to betray the trust of the people. Whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders are ready to swear with the Quran that they never misappropriated public funds, I will join them. I have no fear because I know I never took money that belonged to the people,” he said.

 

 

The former governor expressed dismay over the allegations, saying his administration has been accused without any clear evidence of where the money went missing or who took it.

 

He further claimed that his allies were being targeted and invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as part of a smear campaign against him.

 

“I have left everything to God’s judgment. I have prayed and will remain silent on the issue. I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against those tarnishing my name, but for now, I’m focused on my activities like reading and writing,” he said.

 

 

El-Rufai emphasised that service to the people continues even after leaving office, stating, “You don’t need to hold a position in government to serve. We are still working with like-minded individuals who genuinely want to serve the people, not those seeking to enrich themselves.”

 

Looking ahead, El-Rufai revealed that he intends to return to politics in 2027 after completing his studies, remarking, “There is no retirement in politics. God willing, we will return and continue serving the people.”

 

 

 

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