There seems to be more crisis for the United Bank of Africa, UBA and Fidelity Bank as call is ongoing for their prosecution over their roles in the money laundering trial of now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
While handing down Maina’s conviction, Justice Okon Abang berated the role played by UBA and Fidelity banks in facilitating the illegal activities which caused pain to pensiomers by aiding the fraudulent activities.
Responding, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, while commending the judgement is calling for action against the banks fingered in the shaddy deals.
CACOL has petitioned Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, urging him to institute a probe and possible prosecution of some banks over their alleged involvement in the money laudering case of the former chairman of now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
It would be recalled that Maina was recently sentenced to eight years imprisonment by Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to CACOL, from the EFCC’s investigations as revealed during the court processes, some banks were said to have been found culpable for aiding fraud and were allegedly used by Maina as ‘conduits’ to defraud pensioners and they ought to have been charged.
CACOL’s chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, in the letter he personally signed stated that the banks, “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Maina) used in defrauding the Federal Government, and for this reason, the licence of the bank ought to have been withdrawn as the bank benefitted from the proceeds of illegal transactions.”
Adeniran stressed that even the judge, Justice Abang, had declared that the convict, through the assistance of the fingered banks, deprived the pensioners that gave their all to the country in their youthful age, their legitimate earnings.
He quoted Justice Abang as stating in his ruling that the pensioners were suffering, “Whereas the convict was feeding fat on their sweat in faraway Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), buying choice properties, driving bulletproof cars, living in affluence beyond his legitimate earnings.”
Adeniran said that going by Justice Abang’s ruling ad the EFCC’s findings, CACOL was calling for appropriate sanctions to be meted out to these banks which might include the withdrawal of their operating licences, punishment and prosecution of offending bank officials.
Adeniran told the EFCC boss: “CACOL, as you are aware, is an aggregate of human rights, community-based and civil society organisations 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 the 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 case and we have no doubt that you will do due diligence in carrying out this assignment for the 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.”
