The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said that the top officials suspended last week have not yet been indicted for involvement in the uncovered fraud.
Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor stated this yesterday.
The CBN had last week reported discovery of a sophisticated fraudulent transaction, as well as suspension of key personnel involved in the transaction. While the apex bank did not reveal the identities of the staff, unconfirmed reports indicated that the suspend staff include Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, Joseph Nnanna, Deputy Director, Payment, Deputy Director, Trade and Exchange department, and the Deputy Director, Governor’s Office.
Commenting on the development, Okoroafor explained that the affected personnel suspended by the Bank’s management had to undergo that administrative procedure because they handled the routine processing of the said payment.
He stated that preliminary investigations so far had not revealed any accomplice within the Bank, adding that management had to suspend the officers in order to allow unfettered investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that it had not invited any of the suspended CBN officials for questioning.
It will be recalled that the CBN in a statement last week stated that the bank had uncovered and aborted a highly sophisticated plot to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by some criminal minded elements.
The statement, which was also signed by Okorafor disclosed that the CBN management decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension and had reported the matter to relevant authorities. The CBN, in the statement, also assured the public that the security of the bank remained intact.
