EFCC arrests Abuja bank manager hoarding new notes

Despite having N29 million worth of the new naira notes stored in the branch's vaults, the operations manager of a top commercial bank in Abuja's central area was detained by agents of the Economic and Financial Commission on Monday.

To the relief of the upset customers who had waited hours in line without receiving the new notes, the operatives ordered the filling of all the ATMs and the payment of the specified amount across the counter before removing him for further questioning.

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC's head of media and publicity, revealed in a statement our correspondent acquired on Monday.

Uwujaren stated that the EFCC made this discovery, which pointed to banks sabotaging the government's monetary policy, as part of ongoing surveillance and visits to banks across the nation to access their vaults and determine whether they were purposefully withholding the newly designed naira notes from customers.

He said, “More than five bank branches were covered on Monday by the EFCC operatives in Abuja, similar exercises are 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.”