N50m fraud: Lagos businessman takes case to CBN

The victim, who identified himself as Amobi Akaegbobi, accused officials of the bank of collecting the said sum under the pretense of helping him to source for forex through one of the branches of the bank located at Victoria Garden City (VGC).Already, a strongly-worded petition has since been sent to the governor of the Central […]

The victim, who identified himself as Amobi Akaegbobi, accused officials of the bank of collecting the said sum under the pretense of helping him to source for forex through one of the branches of the bank located at Victoria Garden City (VGC).
Already, a strongly-worded petition has since been sent to the governor of the Central Bank and other relevant agencies in the banking sector, as well as the minister of finance.
Solicitor to the businessman, Mr. Austin Nwabufo told reporters yesterday at the command headquarters, Ikeja, that, “The whole sordid thing started in February and dragged on to May 2014.’’
According to him, that was the period when the businessman was persuaded by his accounts officer at the bank’s branch situated at ASPAMDA International Market, Trade Fair Centre, Lagos.
He stated that at the beginning of the transaction, his accounting officer encouraged him to move the said amount to their branch at Victoria Garden City to enable them help purchase foreign exchange for his company.
“The businessman, who had in the past, relished purchasing foreign exchange for overseas importation of goods for his two companies, was persuaded in the reversal to change course from his usual purchases through the bank branch at ASPAMDA to Victoria Garden City branch.
“Two directors of the bank favoured the Victoria Garden City branch of the bank in foreign exchange allocations and sales as the latest banking policy.
“On the basis of this representation, the victim made the first purchase of $50, 000, 00 after repeated pressure and persuasion of both the account’s officer and a top management staff of the bank serving as the Head of Operations of the bank. After a successful purchase of the money, the businessman, who was reluctant to continue the said purchases from the branch, was constantly pressurised with a minimum of not less than 20 phone calls daily by both his account officer and the head of operations of the bank to make more purchases, consequent upon which he made two separate purchases of $100, 000,00 on March 6, 2014.’’
He further alleged that, “After this purchase, the businessman, who has limited knowledge of banking transactions, paid a total of N40million through an account provided by the head of operations who assured him that he should pay the money into the designated account, citing Intra-bank Intermediary foreign exchange instructions from the highest echelon of the bank, and believing this high ranking officer, he fell into a trap of being swindled.”
Continuing, he said consequently upon the discovery that he had been swindled, a petition and reminders to both the bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria was written.
He claimed that the management of the bank who had duly been informed had resorted to foot-dragging.
It was gathered that, though the officials were arrested and detained by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the instance of the authorities of the bank, the victim is presently alleging a cover-up against the bank.
This claim could not be immediately verified as all telephone calls to the Head of Public Affairs of the bank were not responded to.
He further alleged that the various bank customers who were duped in the past and wanted their money back, were completely fenced off during investigation.
He also claimed that some were merely brought in to act as witnesses on behalf of the bank.
When contacted on phone, the Head of Corporate Communication of the bank, Henry Ndiulor said he was in a meeting. A text message to his phone on the matter was not answered.