A bank manager has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on suspicion of hoarding new naira currency.
The lack of the new notes has caused crisis throughout the nation as millions of Nigerians spend hours traveling between ATMs and banking rooms in order to withdraw money.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, while issuing a new deadline for the circulation of older naira notes said that the apex bank was being sabotaged.
He also said that the bank has engaged anti-corruption agencies to neutralize saboteurs.
The arrest of a bank manager who was preventing the use of the new naira was previously revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
According to an announcement made by EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren today, the management of a bank in Abuja was detained for refusing to allow the loading of new notes into the bank’s ATN despite having N29 million of the new notes in the bank,
Uwujaren stated that after the money was discovered, EFCC personnel made sure that it was distributed to customers who had waited hours in line without receiving the new notes, while the manager was detained.
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.”
