Emefiele Suspends Fraud-victim Deputy Governor And Others

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, March 13, (THEWILL) – Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has suspended a deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and four deputy directors for failing to follow financial regulations and due process, leading to the scamming of the bank by fraudsters.

The suspended Deputy Governor, Joseph Nnanna of Financial System Surveillance, was said to have responded to some spam emails without first cross-checking the authenticity of the mails and following CBN stringent payment process before authorising the release of funds when the governor and several senior officials of the bank were on a flight to China last month.

According to THISDAY, the sum of $441,000 was initially lost to the scammers. $251,000 was however blocked and recovered, leaving a balance of $190,000, which had already been cashed by the fraudsters.

Two of the scammers were however caught in Dubai, United Arab Emirate and are currently being questioned by investigators.

It appears that the scammers apparently timed the execution of the fraud to take place when the CBN governor and other deputy governors were out of the country.

Sources within the bank disclosed that Emefiele had to suspend the affected top officials because the CBN has laid-down procedures for the release of funds, none of which was followed in this particular case warning that any such infraction would be summarily dealt with.

THEWILL recalls that CBN in a four-paragraph statement, signed by the Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, and titled, 'CBN Uncovers and Aborts Fraud,' revealed that the bank had uncovered and aborted fraud without giving details.

“A highly sophisticated plot to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by some criminal minded elements has been uncovered and aborted by the bank,” the statement read.

“Although preliminary investigations so far have not revealed any accomplices within the CBN, management has decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension. “This is to ensure a full and unfettered investigation.

“This incidence has been reported to relevant authorities. The CBN wishes to assure the general public that the security of the bank remains intact.”

Story by David Oputah