Nigeria's oldest bank, First Bank, has launched legal proceedings to recover a staggering sum of approximately ₦40 billion ($29 million) allegedly embezzled by a rogue employee.
The employee, Tijani Muiz Adeyinka, who managed the electronic products team at the bank's head office in Iganmu, Lagos, is accused of diverting funds to 98 bank accounts, including his wife's.
The bank reported the incident to the Nigerian Police Force on March 25, 2024, and obtained three court orders between April 4-8, 2024, to freeze hundreds of bank accounts linked to the stolen funds. Adeyinka, who is now on the run, allegedly exploited his authority to process customer reversals, crediting a merchant account he controlled instead.
The scheme went undetected for almost two years until a customer complaint led to an internal investigation, revealing suspicious transactions. The bank's internal control unit reported the incident to the police, prompting legal action.
The bank has written the police to commence full investigation and ensure recovery of the money stolen by the rogue staff.
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