Full scale investigation into the N250million fraud rocking the Allen Avenue, Ikeja branch of Fidelity Bank Plc has commenced, with a view to ascertaining whether any other staff member was involved in the theft of about N250million belonging to a customer of the bank.
A staff of the bank now on the run was said to have used forged documents to secure approval to liquidate a fixed deposit account operated by the customer, whose identity was not immediately known.
It was gathered that the fraud was detected after the fraudster, said be one of the oldest staff members absconded. The bank was initially contacted that he had been kidnapped but only to discover that he faked his own kidnap after perpetrating the fraud.
In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the documents purportedly issued by the customer did not emanate from her but were forged by the runaway staff.
National Daily gathered that top management of the bank has queried the staff members that played one role or the other in the fraudulent transaction. It was also gathered that the runaway staff might have fled the country soon after he collected the money as he was said to have bought forex from a bureau de change.
A top source at the bank, who confirmed the incident, attributed it to angst over what he described as “unfavourable policy by the bank on the condition of service”.
He explained that the bank dumped payment of retirement benefits after it embraced the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a development, which pitched the staff against the bank management.
However, another staff member who also confirmed the incident, debunked the allegation of unfavourable policy, insisting that Fidelity was not the only bank that embraced the CPS.
When National Daily contacted the bank’s corporate communication’s department, a staff attached to the department promised that the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Mr. Charles Aigbe will contact THISDAY on the matter. But at the time of going to press, there was no official statement from the bank.