ICPC arrests Bank managers in Abuja for hiding N258 million new notes

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the arrest of bank managers who were discovered to be hiding N258 million in the bank in Abuja.

The ICPC made the arrest as part of efforts to get the institutions to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive on the distribution of redesigned naira notes.

A statement from the ICPC said that the Regional and Service managers who were allegedly involved were arrested and granted administrative bail while the probe continues.

It said that after the official’s arrest, the machine was adjusted and started dispensing N5,000 to non-customers and N10,000 to customers.

The anti graft monitoring team visited the bank and discovered new notes, which is said to be the remnant of the amount the CBN earlier released to the bank for onward distribution.

The statement said that preliminary investigation revealed that only N5million each was distributed to various branches.

The ICPC also arrested the Head of Operations at a bank in Mararaba in Nasarawa State for frustrating customers seeking new notes.

A team noticed that the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the branch were not dispensing cash to its customers; others could only access N1,000.

The statement said that a bank security guard on 3rd Avenue in Gwarinpa, Abdulkareem Shaibu was caught with five ATM cards used to withdraw money for unknown persons.

Ali Adam and Shafiu Umar were similarly nabbed at 1st Avenue in Gwarinpa while selling denominations of the naira.