The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it did not raid the head office of Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos in its official capacity saying further that it did not authorise such raid as it was against the standard procedures of the bank and the EFCC as well.
The statement was made by the EFCC in light of reports that 20 operatives of the anti-graft agency had raided the headquarters of the Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos following the heavy fines imposed on the bank by the CBN for allegedly helping MTN repatriate funds from Nigeria Illegally.
Bank officials did not see the move by the EFCC as necessary or proper and were bewildered when there was a purported raid of its Lagos headquarters by men wearing the red flak Jacket of the EFCC which officials of the agency are known to wear when they go on raids.
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Due to the confusion generated, a statement was issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren stating that;
“There was no raid on the bank by its (EFCC) officers, the raid by operatives purportedly wearing the jackets of the Commission might have been the handiwork of errant officers who acted without authorization.
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.”