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The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC),to probe and possibly prosecute United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Fidelity Bank Plcover their alleged involvement in the money lauding case of the former chairman of now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The anti-corruption group gave the suggestion in a petition written to the agency’s chairman,Abdulrasheed Bawa,made available to Premium News at the weekend.
Maina was earlier in the week sentenced to eight years jail terms by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
But the group in the petition signed by its chairman,Comrade Debo Adeniran,claimed that from the EFCC’s investigations as revealed during the court processes, the two banks were said to have been found culpable for aiding fraud and were allegedly used by Maina as vehicles to defraud pensioners and they ought to have been charged alongside Maina.
He added:“We understand that Fidelity Bank provided the channels with which the convict (Abdulrasheed Maina) used in defrauding the Federal Government, and for this reason, the licence of the bank ought to have been withdrawn as the bank benefitted from the proceeds of illegal transactions.”
According to him,Justice Okon Abang, had declared that the convict, through the assistance of Fidelity Bank Plc, deprived the pensioners that gave their all to this country in their youthful age, their legitimate earnings.
He expressed that following Justice Abang’s ruling and the EFCC’s findings, it was necessary to slam requisite sanctions on the two banks which might include the withdrawal of their operating licences, punishment and prosecution of offending bank officials.
He added: “CACOL, as you are aware, is an aggregate of human rights, community based and civil society organiations and individuals with an anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, non-profit organisation.Sir, we are encouraged to submit this petition to you based on our resolve to always expose any corrupt act(s) being perpetrated by anyone either in public or private sphere.
“Moreover, this petition is directed at your good offices, knowing that statutorily, it is the primary responsibility of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute this kind of cases and we have no doubt that you will do due diligence in carrying out this assignment for public good.We are thanking you for your anticipated cooperation, detailed investigation and diligent prosecution, if need be. We would also urge you to please keep us posted about the progress being made on the case from time to time.”
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