By Desire Emmanuel
First Bank of Nigeria Plc has got the sum of N802.4 million back from the over N1.3 billion it credited to the account of a customer by mistake courtesy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that the bank petitioned the anti graft agency after it discovered the development which occurred during what it described as “system glitches” as the huge amount was credited to the customer known as Ojo Eghosa Kingsley.
According to information, the bank, in its petition to the EFCC, disclosed that system glitches led it to erroneously credit the account of Kingsley with the said amount.
After receiving the petition, the commission swung into action and during its investigation, its officials discovered that the man, upon seeing the money in his account, transferred a substantial amount to the bank accounts of his mother, Itohan Ojo and that of his sister, Edith Okoro Osaretin, and committed part of the money to the completion of his building project and the funding of a flamboyant lifestyle.
The EFCC was eventually able to recover part of the money from the identified bank accounts and on Monday, January 12, the Benin Zonal Command of the agency handed the money over to officials of the bank.
Also, Kingsley and others were arrested in connection with the matter and had been charged to court for stealing, according to a statement by the EFCC on Tuesday, January 13.
Acting Director, Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, while handing over the money, stated that the EFCC will continue to discharge its mandate effectively in the overall interests of the society.
In his response, Olalere Sunday Ajayi, Business Manager, First Bank, Benin, who received the drafts on behalf of the bank, commended the EFCC for the swiftness and the professionalism it brought to bear in the handling of the matter and expressed the bank’s gratitude to the commission.
