Financial institution headed by Mr Philips Odozua is currently enmeshed in an alleged case of fraud.
A customer, Alhaja Nana Aisha Abu- Ali claims insiders within the bank
have swindled her. Huge sums of money were reportedly serially withdrawn
from her account via U- direct electronic money transfer, one of the
bank's service platforms.
Here is a full detail of the development as sourced from gistmaster
'The spate of fraudulent practices in some Nigerian institutions is
growing at a very alarming rate.Despite the arrest and prosecution of
some managers in Nigeria UBA bank in the past,the trend is yet to
abate.Gistmaster gathered that Phillip Odozua,the GMD of UBA is worried
that some people are out to dent the image of the bank’s profile.
A Lokoja-based businesswoman, Alhajia Nana Aisha Abu-Ali, has
petitioned the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent withdrawals
from her company’s account domiciled in Lokoja branch of the bank.
In a petition, addressed to the director, public complainants on
fraud, EFCC, and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State
Command, the businesswoman alleged that staff members of the bank
colluded with each other to illegally withdraw money from her account,
using the electronic platform, U-DIRECT.She further stated that inspite
of the bank admitting that she was defrauded, the bank has refused to
refund her monies, amounting to over one million naira.
'Abu-Ali stated that the bank first blocked her account on 16
September, 2013 and upon inquiry from her account officer with the
bank, she was asked to respond to some questions, only for her to
receive debit alerts later the following day showing massive
unauthorized withdrawals from her account.She stated that the fraudsters
first withdrew N489,141.75K, then in quick succession, withdrew
N149,000, N99,141.75K, and N278,141.75k
She said the bank has refused to refund the stolen money inspite of the
fact that officials of the bank claimed that their investigations have
been able to trace the stolen fund to accounts within the bank and other
banks, some belonging UBA officials in Owerri.Attaching a letter from
the UBA, with reference No UBA REF. CC1309188591, dated 30th September
2013, and signed by one Josephine Anyanwu, Head, Customer Operations,
Lagos, addressed to her, UBA admitted to tracing the stolen money to
some of her officials, but three months after, she is yet to get refund.
'In the UBA letter, the bank admitted that their investigations
showed that N1,015,000.00, was found to have been fraudulently
withdrawn from the account using the U-Direct internet banking platform
and credited to accounts domiciled with FirstBank, FMCB and one inhouse
UBA account.Anyanwu said restriction has been placed on the in-house
account, and that the police are investigating the official, adding
however that about N99,000 has been successfully blocked in FirstBank.
She stressed that she was assured that the Abu-Ali ‘s account would
be credited as soon as the money is retrieved.Anyanwu admitted that,
apart from the N99,000 recovered from the FirstBank, the fraudster had
dispensed with the stolen money.She also said the bank, UBA, would not
be liable for the fraud because it appears Abu-Ali’’s account was
compromised by fraudster, as it was probable that the customer
responded to phishing e-mails.'
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