0
0
The House of Representatives on Tuesday accused commercial banks of illegally deducting unexplained sums from customers’ accounts without proper remittances.
Speaking at an investigative panel in Abuja, the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee probing bank charges and tax deductions from civil and public servants’ salaries, Rep. Kelechi Nwogu, emphasized the panel’s mandate to ensure that all deductions by banks are proper, justified, and correctly utilized.
“Commercial banks are perpetrating illegality by deducting unexplained charges from civil servants, public servants, and other customers’ accounts without proper remittance,” Nwogu said.
He affirmed the committee’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from unlawful deductions and revealed that the Ministry of Finance had been invited to cooperate with the investigation.
Nwogu also stated that the committee would work in partnership with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the EFCC, and commercial banks operating in Nigeria to ensure a thorough probe.
The committee chairman rejected attempts to send representatives of the CEOs of GT Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, and other institutions, insisting that the bank chiefs must appear before the panel in person.
“You cannot appear here without an identity. We are not here on our own; we are acting on the mandate of the people who elected us,” he said.
He added, “We have resolved to meet next Wednesday. You must submit all requested documents by Monday. We will review all documents and put you under oath.”
The committee has given a four-day ultimatum for all banks involved to submit the required documents necessary for the investigation.
