Fear now rules in the banking sector as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) zooms their searchlight on them.
Already, three Managing Directors of some of the leading banks have been arrested and may be arraigned any time soon. The first to be picked up was Nnamdi Okonkwo of Fidelity Bank; followed by Yemi Adeola of Sterling Bank and now Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank.
The three top bankers are currently being detained and quizzed by EFCC operatives over their alleged not too tidy financial dealings with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s most powerful minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, who was in charge of the Petroleum Ministry.
Some EFCC insiders told us that the drag net is widening – and that in the next few weeks more banking top shots will also be taken in. ‘Oh, some of our top bankers no longer sleep with both eyes closed, especially those with one or two skeletons in their cupboards. Just wait and see what will happen in the next few weeks. The sleaze perpetrated by these people is just unprecedented, and little by little, EFCC is uncovering them’.
So far, Fidelity Bank has appointed an acting MD – Balarabe Musa, hitherto an Executive Director in the bank. Unlike Sterling and Access Banks. Who are perhaps still taking their time.