E-Financial
Forensic Firm, CBN, First Bank Clash Over Fraudulent Charge Allegations in $54.2m Facility
Lensview Consulting Services, a Lagos-based forensic and auditing firm, has alleged bias, open fraud, deliberate cover-up and impersonation of persons by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the handling of fraudulent transaction charge refund by Nigerian money deposit banks with First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FBN) as a case in point, according to Quick News Africa report.
Mr. Henry Foss, Managing Consultant of Lensview whose client is a victim of the fraudulent charge, made the disclosure recently.
Lensview had in 2022 approached the CBN on behalf of its clients to compel FBN to refund the sum of $227,235.34, being 0.5% of $554,570.68 as the agreed Bank Guarantee Fee on a $54.2m facility its client requested from FBN. Rather than adhere to the agreed 0.5%, FBN charged Lensview’s client 1% which translated to $554,570.68, and hence the fraudulent excess charge of $227,235.34. “When FBN refused to refund the excess at the agreed rate, based on a long standing offered rate at 0.5%, Lensview had to petition the CBN on the matter and the CBN carefully reviewed the merit of the petition after which it asked FBN to refund the excess amount to the customer with accrued interest as a standing rule,” Foss said.
Instead of honouring CBN’s decision to credit the customer’s account, FBN turned around for several months to find a way to avert the decision by coming up with copy of an email chat purportedly between an FBN employee and the customer’s representative claiming that the Guarantee Fee had been increased from 0.5% to 2%, as an offer condition, which FBN claimed to have been accepted by the customer’s representative. But this unauthorised customer’s representative apparently lacked the capacity to accept such a decision on behalf of the principal nor had the customer’s mandate powers to instruct or authorise payment or drawings on the principal’s account without confirmation and necessary due diligence from the company that officially requested for the facility, with significantly, a minimum of two authorised signatures on its letterhead document for such approvals and payments.
On January 20, 2023, Lensview also wrote to the Governor of the Apex Bank, as a follow-up to the issue of fraudulent perversion, impersonation and miscarriage of Justice by the Consumer Protection Department (CPD), an arm of the CBN in a petition titled, “Reasonable Suspicion, Likelihood of Bias and Cover up By the Director of the CPD in the Appeal of Judgment between Lensview Consulting Services and the CPD with Petition Tracking Number CIM74368/AST involving First Bank Plc,” alleging that there was impersonation of its person, fraudulent neglect and non-compliance on the part of officers of the apex bank.
According to Foss, the transaction was a significantly heavy one such that FBN cannot claim lack of awareness of the fact that for any change of transaction fees to be effective, it must first be communicated to the customer with a letter with evidence of acknowledgement as a proof that the customer is aware of the change.
The forensic and audit firm also noted that FBN was aware that the said customer’s representative does not have the powers or mandate to authorise such transactions, and where he may, as a signatory with mandate powers, it will require at least two authorised signatures over the company’s letter of acceptance on their Letterhead document and not via a chat on phone between two mutual friends.
“Given the facts of the matter vis a vis the practice of banking in Nigeria, it is surprising that the CBN after its earlier verdict that refunds be credited to client, made a sudden u-turn in favour of FBN justifying the fraudulent e-mail received from customer’s staff to conclude that the e-mail suffices as an authority for FBN to take the charge based on instructions from customer’s staff without confirmation from customer’s authorised signatories,” Foss explained, questioning that if the e-mail content sufficed, why did FBN charge 1% instead 2% Guarantee Fee it stated on the email and who negotiated it from 2% to 1%? “Where is the copy of the letter from customer acknowledging the new rate which could have been negotiated or rejected if customer saw it?” Foss asks.
“More worrisome is the CBN’s lack of explanations as to why the email chat between these mutual friends on behalf of their organisations sufficed as an authority to move such a huge amount from the customer’s very busy account in the books of FBN,” Foss notes.
The CBN, in a bid to cover up this fraud, as Lensview pressed harder, in their letter dated 9/1/2023 to Lensview Consulting solicitors wrote that one Mr. Polycarp representing Lensview Consulting Services was invited in an interdepartmental meeting with representatives of the CBN in August 2022, where the said impersonator, Mr. Polycarp, affirmed and upheld the unanimous decisions with the CBN with respect to the fraudulent e-mail from FBN, as correct and sufficient to close the matter.
“This engagement of one purported Mr. Polycarp to stand in for Lensview Consulting Services in the said August 2022 meeting is another fraudulent move by the CBN to cover for FBN on the open e-mail fraud,” Foss said, adding that the CBN, in one of their recent letters to Lensview Consulting, wrote to say they have closed the matter based on the affirmation of the impostor consultant they hired to kill the matter.”
But Foss said that the CBN soon realised that it had erred by engaging an impostor consultant to stand in for Lensview in the said August 2022 meeting, and they quickly wrote back with efforts in futility to invalidate their letter dated 5/1/2023 where Mr. Polycarp the impostor was referred to.
For Lensview, this is a public call for the CBN and it’s co- traveller, FBN to do the right thing and credit the customer the excess charges it fraudulently deducted from the customer.
SOURCE: Quick News Africa
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced that its Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, will retire from the Board of Directors on Aug. 21, 2026, upon completing the 12-year tenure limit for non-executive directors prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The bank disclosed this in a statement issued following a meeting of its Board of Directors held on July 6.
According to the statement, the board accepted Elumelu’s retirement and elected Mr Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a Non-Executive Director of the bank, as his successor with effect from Aug. 21, 2026.
The board expressed appreciation to Elumelu for what it described as his visionary leadership and immense contributions to the growth and institutional development of the UBA Group.
It noted that under his leadership, UBA expanded into a leading pan-African financial institution with operations in 20 African countries and four global financial centres, serving more than 50 million customers.
The board described Elumelu’s tenure as a defining period in the bank’s history.
Nnorom, who will assume office as chairman upon Elumelu’s retirement, is a chartered accountant with more than 40 years of experience in banking, finance and auditing.
The statement said he brings extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of the bank to his new role.
Speaking on his retirement, Elumelu described serving UBA as one of the greatest privileges of his professional career.
“Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career.
“UBA has established a unique competitive position across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future.
“Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the bank will continue to thrive under his leadership,” he said.
Responding to his appointment, Nnorom expressed gratitude to the board for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders,” he said.
UBA operates in 20 African countries as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates.
The bank provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services and serves more than 50 million customers globally, with a workforce of about 25,000 employees across its operations.
Zedvance Finance Limited has appointed Professor Pius ‘Deji’ Olanrewaju as Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective July 1, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Professor Pius ‘Deji’ Olanrewaju
The company disclosed this in a statement, describing the appointment as a significant step in strengthening its corporate governance structure and positioning the organisation for its next phase of growth.
According to Zedvance, the appointment reflects its commitment to building a robust governance framework capable of driving innovation, sustainable growth and long-term value creation for stakeholders.
The company said Olanrewaju brings extensive boardroom experience, leadership credentials and expertise in governance, strategy and organisational transformation to the role.
It noted that the strengthened board structure would enhance oversight and support the company’s strategic growth ambitions.
Speaking on his appointment, Olanrewaju expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am honoured to assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Zedvance Finance.
“The company has established a strong reputation as a trusted financial partner, leveraging innovation and technology to create meaningful impact.
“I look forward to working with the board and management to support the company’s strategic aspirations and deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders,” he said.
Olanrewaju is a legal scholar, banking expert and corporate leader with more than four decades of experience spanning banking, finance, academia and institutional governance.
He holds degrees in Law, Arts and Social Sciences, including a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Bachelor of Laws (B.L.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), Fellow of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (FIMA), Fellow of the Institute of Management and Administrative Technology (FCMR), and Fellow of the Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (FERP).
Olanrewaju is also a member of several professional bodies and served as the immediate past President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
During his more than 35 years of service to the institute, he held several strategic positions, including Chairman of its Capacity Building and Certification Committee.
He is currently a Professor of Banking Law at Babcock University, where he previously served as Provost and Dean of the School of Law and Security Studies.
He has authored and co-authored several academic publications and serves on the boards of a number of organisations, including Babcock University Microfinance Bank.
The company expressed confidence that his experience in strategic leadership, corporate governance and financial services oversight would support its long-term growth and institutional development.
Taiwo Oyedele, minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy, has said there are no secret expenditures or shadow budgets as insinuated.
Taiwo Oyedele, minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy
This followed comments by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that discrepancies amounting to about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exist between reported and actual budget deficits.
In a statement on Sunday, Oyedele said claims that the Federal Government spent over N8 trillion outside the approved budget misrepresented both the IMF’s position and Nigeria’s fiscal framework.
The minister stressed that the federal government does not operate a “shadow budget” or spend public funds outside constitutional and statutory provisions.
“The Federal Government has noted recent public commentary alleging that approximately two per cent of GDP amounting to over N8 trillion was spent outside the approved budget based on references to the IMF Representative in Nigeria and the Fund’s 2026 Article IV Consultation Report. These claims are incorrect and risk misleading the public regarding the government’s financial management,” he said.
According to him, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government does not operate a ‘shadow budget’ or expend public funds outside the constitutional and statutory framework established for public finance.”
Oyedele explained that under Sections 80 to 83 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), public funds can only be withdrawn and spent in accordance with the Constitution and laws enacted by the National Assembly.
He noted that government spending is undertaken through duly enacted Appropriation Acts, Supplementary Appropriation Acts and other statutory authorities approved by the National Assembly, while multi-year capital projects are implemented under existing laws that permit capital rollovers.
“It is inaccurate to suggest that trillions of naira have been secretly spent outside legislative approval. Such allegations should have identified the specific projects purportedly executed without appropriation or legal authority and present credible evidence in support of the claim,” the minister stated.
Oyedele further clarified that several categories of government expenditure, including statutory transfers, first-line charges, debt service obligations, interventions for national security and infrastructure, and allocations to agencies established by law, are authorised under various Acts of the National Assembly.
“These expenditures are neither secret nor illegal. They are established by law, disclosed in various fiscal reports, and subject to applicable oversight, audit and accountability mechanisms,” he said.
The minister added that differences between Nigeria’s budget presentation and international fiscal reporting standards should not be interpreted as evidence of unlawful spending.
He also rejected suggestions that the reported amount translated into a higher fiscal deficit. “It is equally incorrect to suggest that the reported amount represents an increase in budget deficit.
A fiscal deficit is determined by the relationship between total government revenues and total government expenditures.
“Whether a capital project is financed through annual appropriations, supplementary appropriations, statutory transfers, approved intervention mechanisms, or other lawful financing arrangements does not, by itself, increase the fiscal deficit,” he explained.
According to Oyedele, the IMF’s observations relate mainly to “the comprehensiveness, timing and presentation of fiscal reporting rather than the legality of expenditure.”
He noted that the Tinubu administration was already taking steps to harmonise Nigeria’s budgeting process, recalling that President Bola Tinubu had requested the National Assembly during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to end the practice of multiple and overlapping budgets in favour of a single, unified budget framework.
The minister maintained that the administration remained committed to prudent fiscal management, transparency and accountability, adding that reforms in revenue administration, treasury management, budget credibility and digitalisation of government financial processes had received recognition from the IMF, other multilateral institutions, international credit rating agencies and investors.
“Public debate is both welcome and essential in a democratic society. However, it should be based on facts and an accurate understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional and fiscal framework. Mischaracterising technical observations as evidence of unlawful expenditure neither advances informed public discourse nor strengthens democratic accountability,” Oyedele added.a
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency in the management of public resources and pledged continued collaboration with the National Assembly, oversight institutions, development partners and Nigerians to strengthen fiscal governance in line with international best practices.
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