An Operations Manager of a leading Commercial bank in Abuja Central Area (name withheld) was today, February 6, 2023, arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, for refusing to load the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), of the bank despite having N29million of the redesigned Naira notes in the branch’s vaults.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) denied that banks are hoarding the new naira notes, insisting that the financial institutions do not have any reason to hoard the currency in the face of enormous hardships facing Nigerians.
EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement on Monday that before the Manager (named withheld) was whisked away for further questioning, the operatives ordered the loading of all the ATMs and the payment of the stipulated amount across the counter to the delight of the distraught customers who had spent hours on queues without getting the new notes.
“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 were 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.”