The anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has denied invading the Lagos head office of Standard Chartered Bank.
Standard Chartered Bank was among the four banks indicted by the Central Bank of Nigeria for allegedly aiding MTN in illegal repatriation of $8,134,312,397.63 from the country, in violation of the extant Nigerian foreign exchange and anti-money laundering laws
The bank has denied the accusation.
Friday evening, the operatives of the EFCC reportedly stormed the Lagos head office of the bank.
But the anti-graft agency in a statement said it did not raid the bank’s head office.
In a statement, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said “Following repeated media enquiries regarding a purported raid on the head office of the Standard Chartered Bank today September 14, by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Commission is constrained to state that there was no raid on the bank by its officers.”
“The raid by operatives purportedly wearing the jackets of the Commission might have been the handiwork of errant officers who acted without authorisation.
“The action is in flagrant violation of the standard operation procedures of the Commission as it is not the style of the EFCC to openly raid the offices of banks and other financial institutions.
“Officials of such institutions who are wanted by the commission, are usually invited for questioning after discreet investigation. Over the years, banks have been cooperative in releasing their officers to the Commission for questioning.
“The Commission will investigate the circumstances leading to this illegal raid by errant officers and those found culpable would be subjected to the internal disciplinary mechanism of the Commission.
“EFCC again reassures Nigerians that it is an agency which adheres strictly to the rule of law and will, as much as possible, avoid draconian measures in its fight against corruption.”
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