The Central Bank of Nigeria has suspended one of its deputy governors for being involved in ‘a sophisticated plot’ to defraud the bank a huge sum of money.
Two directors of the bank were also suspended over the multi-million naira scam.
The suspension was ordered by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after preliminary findings revealed that they might be culpable.
The CBN had on Thursday night said it had uncovered what it described as a highly sophisticated plot to defraud the bank by some people.
The bank said in a statement by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, that while preliminary investigations had not revealed any accomplices within the bank, some personnel within the CBN had been placed on suspension.
The nature of the fraud was not specified in the statement, but said the need to place the officials on suspension was to allow for proper investigations by the relevant authorities.
“A highly sophisticated plot to defraud the CBN by some criminally minded elements has been uncovered and aborted by the bank.
“Although preliminary investigations so far have not revealed any accomplices within the CBN, the management has decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension.
“This is to ensure a full and unfettered investigation. This incidence has been reported to the relevant authorities.”
The CBN in the statement assured stakeholders in the banking sector that the security within the central bank remains intact and had not been breached.
Experts said the CBN as a regulator was being saddled with responsibilities that were related to that of commercial banking and, as such, made its system prone to corruption.
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