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Tag: fraud

  • Administrator challenges judiciary on online fraud

    Administrator challenges judiciary on online fraud

    The Administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice R.P.I Bozimo has called on the judiciary to be well prepared to tackle the challenges posed by electronic banking.

    Speaking at the 14th National Seminar on Banking and Allied Matters for Judges held in Abuja and organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), he said the introduction of electronic banking system in the country came with its myriad of challenges.

    Some of these challenges, he said, include malfunctioning of ATM machines, network failures, online theft and non-availability of financial services, payment of hidden costs of electronic banking such as short messages services (SMS) and other numerous hidden charges.

    Other challenges, he said, are lack of disclosures, errors in operating the machines, lost or stolen ATM or debit cards.

    In some cases, he insisted, billions of naira are lost electronically from customers’ accounts by third parties who are scammers. Fraud and money laundering are perpetrated through electronic transfers accentuated by trans-border banking. Scammers steal customers’ identities, forge signatures and siphon depositors’ funds.

    All these challenges, he said, usually lead to legitimate legal claims between the banks and customers, especially when they are occasioned by lack of cyber security. It is when these claims are presented in court for proper adjudication or determination, as the case may be, that the success and importance of this seminar is most evaluated and appreciated.

    He said the the theme for this year’s seminar is “Banking in Nigeria in the Electronic Age: Pertinent Issues for the Judiciary.

    This theme, he added, is fitting for two reasons. “The first reason is that the focus of the National Judicial Institute’s programmes for this year is information and Communication Technology (ICT). The second reason is that electronic banking system in Nigeria has taken off full blast culminating in the cashless/cash-lite policy of the Nigerian government. It can, therefore, be seen that there is no better choice of theme than the one we have and now is the most appropriate time for this discourse,” he said.

    He said that while the National Judicial Institute is the intellectual arm of the Nigerian Judiciary, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria equally facilitates the intellectual and academic programmes of the banking profession in Nigeria.

  • Motorists accuse fuel attendants of fraud

    Motorists accuse fuel attendants of fraud

    • DPR: we’ve received several complaints

    Motorists are protesting what they called sharp practices by attendants at filling stations. Many filling stations use under-dispensing fuel pumps that do not record accurate sales information.

    The  Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it had received complaints from many motorists.

    The Nation gathered that many of the fuel pumps do not present accurate readings, making it easier for petrol stations to short change their customers.  A visit to some petrol stations in Iyana- Ipaja, Ikotun, Ikeja, Oshodi, Ketu, Ikorodu and Ebute-Metta in the Lagos metropolis gave confirmed this assertion.  It was further gathered that the distortions of the readings of the meters were mostly done by petrol attendants, albeit with instructions from their managers.

    A petrol station manager, who does not want his name in print, said that the issue is disturbing because customers have lost confidence in the filling stations that commit such crimes.The sources said the perpetrators operate like a chain, adding that many people were involved in the issue.

    “From my experience in the industry, I know that a lot of workers were used to short-change customers.  There is a top-down approach to the issue. Senior and junior members of staff in the petrol stations are involved in the crime. It is wrong to conclude that only the junior workers short-change customers.  No petrol attendant has the courage to open meters and adjust them without the express permission of his or her manager.  People who perpetrate such evils make a lot of money. Many petrol attendants have two cars or more. The question is: Where did they get the money to buy those cars?” The source asked how many attendants earn N20,000 monthly?  The older ones do not collect more than N13,000 per month, he said.

    A lawyer, Ponle Olurotimi, said many people have fallen victims to this sharp practice at fuel stations. Olurotimi said she has been inundated with reports of people that were duped by filling stations. I have heard motorists, housewives, and other users of petroleum products complain about the issue, she said.

    She said: “The issue of short-changing customers cuts across the three petroleum products namely diesel, kerosene and petrol.  The transporters, women and other household users of petroleum products have been cheated in the past.  For instance, many have said that they got 15 litres of petrol, instead of 20 litres they paid for.”

    An Executive Director, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Lewis Asubiojo, said some petrol stations in Abuja are fond of under-dispensing products to customers. Asubiojo said he has once reported a petrol attendant to his station manager for not dispensing the right volume to him.

    He said: “I have been short-changed by filling stations owned by independent oil marketing companies. Many of my friends said they do not want to fall victims again, and have resorted to buying fuels from petrol stations that belong to major marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure accurate volume delivery. The NNPC and major marketers have something at stake. They invest billions of naira into the business and would not do anything that will tarnish their reputations.”

    However, the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), George Osahon, said the agency will move against any petrol station found short-changing its customer. Osahon said the DPR has received complaints on the issue via short messages and e-mails. He said that DPR is ready to act on useful information that can lead to discovery of filling stations engaging in such practices.

    “DPR has received several complaints on the issue of retail outlets under-dispensing products to their customers.  Just as it is not possible for the police to be everywhere at the same time, so it is with officials of DPR. We have told the public to come out with information on any station short-changing its customers for necessary action,” he added.

  • Workers urge CBN to sanction banks over ‘fraud’

    Workers urge CBN to sanction banks over ‘fraud’

    The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to probe the activities of  four banks (nams withheld) for allegedly mismanaging its accounts.

    Its President- General, Bede Opara, said two of the banks are first generation banks, while the other two are second generation.

    Opara said the development became necessary, following fraudulent transactions discovered in the accounts of the union.

    He said some senior officials of the association, had in 2003 opened account in their names in one of the banks, instead of the union’s name to warehouse the two per cent deduction from the severance package of the workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    He said the development made the union to suspend the affected workers, adding that the association was later informed of the incident through a letter from the bank.

    He said: ‘’Immediately we received the letter, the secretary-general of the union and I went to the bank to open another account to negate the one opened by the suspended worker.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) at its meeting on February 21, this year constituted an Ad-Hoc Disciplinary Committee to probe allegation of financial misconducts of the workers. But before the committee could take off, the workers have gone to court to stop the investigation and further prevent the banks from cancelling the transaction.”

    He said the National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos had on July 9, this year dismissed the suit filed by the aggrieved members.

    Opara said the banks, in spite of the ruling, have neither effected changes on the accounts or honour transactions made by the association.

    According to him, the development informed the union’s decision to call on CBN to investigate the banks and sanction those that are culpable of the offence.

  • Man arraigned for ‘rape, fraud’

    A 28-year-OLD man, Sheun Olarenwaju, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for alleged rape and obtaining a sum of N50,000 under false pretence.

    Olanrewaju was arraigned before the court presided over Mrs. M. Dan Oni on a three  count charge of rape, theft and obtaining money under false pretence.

    Police prosecutor, E. Okoli had alleged that the defendant on August 29 at Allen roundabout, Ikeja conspired to rape his victim, Abiodun Tanimowo.

    He said the defendant committed an offence punishable under section 263 (2) of the original law of Lagos state Nigeria 2011.

    Okoli further told the court that the defendant had under false pretence also obtained the sum of N50,000 from  Abiodun.

    The alleged offence is punishable under section 312(2), No 34 Vol.44 Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to them.

    The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in ike sum.

    She after adjourned till September 15 for trial.

  • N6.113b ‘fraud’: Aspirant, banker wanted

    N6.113b ‘fraud’: Aspirant, banker wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Abdulahi Usman Adamu (alias Dan China) and a banker, Godswill Oyegwa Oyoyou, wanted for alleged N6.113 billion fraud.

    Adamu is wanted for “obtaining” $500,000 USD (N85 million) from a Chinese Company, Shengjia International (HK) Limited “under false pretence”.

    Oyoyou was allegedly involved in a N6.28 billion fraud.

    In a statement yesterday, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The politician cum miner is wanted by the anti-graft agency for allegedly obtaining $500,000 USD from a Chinese company, Shengjia International (HK) Limited, under false pretence. He allegedly obtained the sum from the firm as part payment for the supply of 3000MT of lead ore, a contract he failed to execute.

    “Following a petition by the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the EFCC invited the suspect for questioning, but he failed to honour the invitation. The suspect is currently on the run, as efforts to track him, including several visits to his home in Narabi, Bauchi, proved futile.

    “Consequently, the commission enjoins any one with useful information on his whereabouts to contact its head office in Wuse 2, Abuja, or zonal offices in Gombe, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos, or the nearest police station. His last known address is No. 1, Sabon Gari, Narabi, in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.”

    EFCC said Oyoyou allegedly hacked into the database of his bank and stole N6.28 billion.

    It said: “In the same vein, a banker, Godswill Oyegwa Oyoyou, an Information Technology staff of a new generation bank, is wanted by the EFCC in a case of fraud involving N6.28 billion.

    “Oyoyou allegedly conspired with some scammers and obtained N6.28 billion from his bank after hacking into the bank’s database. The 38-year-old is from Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.”

  • Fraud,forgery cost banks N20b, says survey

    Banks lost over N20 billion to frauds and forgeries between January and June, last year, according to a survey.

    There were 2.478 fraud and forgery cases valued at over N20 billion during the first half of last year, the KPMG Nigeria 2014 Customer Satisfaction Survey on Fraud and Forgery said.

    The figure, it said, represents an eight per cent increase over the previous year’s volume and indicates a significant increase in value of over 200 per cent from 2012.

    On cybercrime, the report said at two per cent of retail customers indicated that they were fraud victims last year, adding that while this number appears small today, it may signify the start of a potentially disturbing future trend.

    The battle against cybercrime is a typical example of a rat-race that is difficult to win, it said, adding that the least one can do is to try to stay as up to-date as possible.

    According to the report, an overwhelming number of corporate customers (95 per cent)     rated security of their online corporate solution as their most important element of online banking, followed by the ease of use, and convenience.

    “When questioned specifically on their level of comfort with the quality of online banking security, only 50 per cent of customers reported strong satisfaction levels, others were of the opinion that there was room for further improvements,” it said.

    For Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Treasurers of corporate organisations, banks will need to focus on two priority areas to further improve user experience and meet the evolving needs of corporate users.

    Corporate customers, such as CFOs and Treasurers, want banks to recognise the changing nature of their roles so as to provide appropriate support, especially in the area of reporting. This specific class of customers desires greater flexibility and options for customising financial reports.

    The report identified lack of sufficient detail in reporting of transactions as well as the inability to see at a glance, a consolidated view of all banking transactions and accounts across different banking relationships.

    “Increasingly, real-time data is crucial to corporate planning, forecasting and decision-making. Thus, it is clear why corporate customers are demanding that banks provide reliable and accessible real-time data.

    A number of the corporate respondents suggested that more banks should build capabilities to support integration between Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms and banks’ proprietary e-payment solutions, thereby minimising the need for manual intervention and ultimately reducing the risk of errors,” it said.

    KPMG said corporate customers continue to complain that banks need to invest a lot more towards a deeper understanding of their businesses and industry. That way, they feel that banks will be able to support their needs in a more proactive and comprehensive manner.

    However, when questioned on banks’ ability and responsiveness towards designing fit-for-need solutions, only 29 per cent of corporate customers expressed satisfaction with their bank’s ability to tailor solutions to their needs.

    In the three segments, product suitability was rated as one of the most important service measures for customer satisfaction. While the retail and SME customer segments reported slight increases in satisfaction with product suitability, their interest in loans against satisfaction remained  unchange in the corporate segment.

    “For corporate bodies, there was some improvement in satisfaction levels with the quality of e-payments and collections capabilities. In our estimation, we feel that the issue may not necessarily be that quality has declined — in many instances, banks have made considerably more investments — it is that customer expectations have increased,” it said.

    Access to credit remain, it said, a significant challenge for retail and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) customers. Despite majority of customers in both segments expressing interest in accessing loans, only about two in ten customers are very pleased with the ease of access to credit facilities.

     

  • How to avoid electronic payment fraud, by PFS CEO

    The Chief Executive Officer, Precise Channels Systems (PFS) Limited, Yele Okeremi, has warned users of automated teller machine (ATM) cards and prospective users to avoid keeping huge cash on their cards arguing that as soon as the cards are activated, they become exposed to the world that there is money.

    He said even with the nationwide roll-out of the cash-less economy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), card users must be careful because cards issued in Nigeria could be hacked and used to make withdrawals in South Africa, Europe or any part of the world.

    Okeremi, who spoke to The Nation in Lagos, said though card use is good, no sane person should link so much money into a card.

    He said: “Well the issue of security of transaction is real but people have not been careful enough because of the low level of awareness. What I see is that quite a lot of people are not familiar with what can hurt them. So what kind of risks do people have? Your risk profile will determine first of all the channel that you want to use for certain payments and when you determine the channel, you have to decide how you want to safeguard yourself.

    “If you want to pay through the use of cheque; who can you hit (defraud) you by cheque? Before someone can hit you by cheque, he must be very close to you. I mean he must have physical access to your cheque book to have an idea of what the cheque book looks like before going ahead to clone it. That is something you need to be aware of if you are using cheque.

    “If you are using card however, the dynamics have changed because for cards, yes your account is in Nigeria, the card was issued to you in Nigeria, but you may be in London and your card is being compromised in South Africa or Mexico. This is because the moment you initialise the card, you have given notice to the entire world that you have money and that means you are susceptible to be hit from anywhere in the world.

    “The challenges of the threats are slightly different when you are talking about electronic money and therefore, tactics that you as an individual must adopt begins to change. And one of the things I used to say is that you must first of all be careful where you even go with your card, whether it is a shop, whether it’s an online site, just be careful. I have had the experience where my card was compromised in London and I knew where it was done: my wife had gone to somewhere in London for shopping with the card and my account that was in Nigeria was being hit from South Africa simply because she used my card to do transaction.

    He advised card users to have a buffer zone so that when one account is compromised, the users will still have something to fall back upon.

    “One of the things you really need to know as an individual if you are using card is that you must be careful about how much you are linking to any card. No sane person should link so much money that can kill you to card account. That is the first thing you do. So you should have a buffer zone that protects you so that if you are going to lose money, your loss exposures are minimised. Then of course, this issue of compromising the personal identity number (PIN).  Beware who you share your PIN with,” he advised.

  • UNILAG don sues eight banks for alleged internet fraud

    A University of Lagos (UNILAG) don, Dr. Oluwatosin Sanu has sued eight commercial banks for alleged internet fraud on her bank accounts.

    In a writ of summon filed by her counsel, Prof. Akin Ibidapo Obe before a Lagos High Court, Dr. Sanu, who is an associate professor and Consultant Orthodontist in the Faculty of Dental Sciences at University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), is  asking for  N55,050,237.54 being special general and exemplary damages for alleged negligence in the handling of her two bank accounts with the first defendant bank.

    The claimant  also asked the court for  cost of the action which she assessed at N2million.

    The claimant alleged that the negligence on her account by the first defendant bank resulted in unauthorised withdrawals of N3,050,237.54 from her two accounts through the internet and unauthorised payments into beneficiary accounts domiciled in the eight defendant banks.

    The claimant also prayed the court for interest to be calculated on the lost sum  at the prevailing rate as from September 6, last year to the date of judgment.

    The defendants bank include United Bank for Africa Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Enterprise Bank Plc, Access Bank of Nigeria Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank.

    The writ of summons is supported by a 49-paragraph statement of claim and a 70-paragraph affidavit made on oath in support of the statement of claims.

    She alleged that 20 unauthorised  withdrawals totaling  N2,580,693.25 was made from her current account with the first defendant, number 1002717118 between September 3 and September 6, last year.

    She further alleged that eight unauthorised  withdrawals totaling  N469,134 was also made from her Gold Savings  account with the first defendant, number 2060668002 between August 23, 2013 and September 5, 2013.

    The claimant averred in the statement of claim that following a petition on the matter dated October 30, last year,  made to the Nigerian Police, a thorough investigation was conducted into the alleged internet fraud on her two accounts.

    The Police, she claimed issued a report ascribing the loss to negligence and collusion of the first defendant’s servants.

    The claimant stated that on August 10, last year, she travelled to United States for a conference and vacation and that while there, received a call from her daughter, Dr. Sope Akeredolu, informing her that her bank account officer at the first defendant’s bank, Mr. Olatunbosun Alakija had been trying to reach her on phone without success.

    She said that when he eventually got through to her on telephone, she was told that there were purported “transactions” going on in her bank accounts but that no details was given.

    She claimed to have repudiated the transactions as not coming from her, more so that her cheque book and ATM card were with her in the US.

    On her return from the US, she met with her account officer and branch manager, Mrs. Patricia Ozukwe.

    She said she was told that a total transfer of N3,050,237.54 had been made on her account to various purported beneficiary accounts through the bank’s internet banking transaction.

    The claimant alleged that the first defendant breached the duty of care owed her and was negligent in the management of her accounts when it facilitated such huge withdrawals without her knowledge and authorisation.

    According to her, the first defendant or its internet banking officer ought prudently and reasonably to have contacted her through telephone,sms or electronic mail for her authorisation of the internet withdrawals, particularly where huge sum was withdrawn from her two accounts through multiple transactions in one day.

    For instance, she said N650,850.50 was withdrawn from her current account in six transactions on September 4, last year; that N660,992.25 was withdrawn from the same account in seven separate internet transactions in one day on September 5, last year while in her Gold savings account, a sum of N451,567 was withdrawn in four transactions on August 23, last year, among other internet withdrawals.

    The claimant averred that contrary to the statement of the accounts, the report of the Customer Fulfillment Centre(CFC) did not capture some of the purported withdrawal transactions.

    The claimant said she wrote a formal letter of complaint dated September 17, last year to the manager of the Idi-Araba branch of the first defendant, repudiating the unauthorised purported transactions on her two accounts and asked for the reinstatement of the funds but  that nothing was done on her request for refund.

    She claimed that her solicitor also wrote to the managing director of the first defendant, copied the Idi-Araba branch, on the issue on September 26  consequent upon which the first defendant implored the claimant’s counsel to stay action on the matter pending investigation into the allegations.                     She averred that on October 3, last year, the service manager of the first defendant, one Mr. Johnson Onyiriuka rather sent an electronic mail directly to her that her “issue” (complaint) had been “closed”, adding that the first defendant breached its duty of care owed her by sending the said electronic mail dated October 3.

    It said the email communication of the Service Manager caused the claimant to needlessly undergo pain, suffering and trauma that her loss was irreversible, adding that it was also “deliberate and contrived to intimidate the claimant into abject submission and to accept her “fate”.

    She averred that her counsel again attempted to work out an amicable resolution by writing another letter dated October 28, last year to the Manager of the Audit and Compliance unit of the first defendant requesting him to intervene but that no response had been received from the unit up till date.

    She said the development informed the petition sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Panti  to investigate the matter.

    The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.

     

  • Why banks must curb fraud, by Emefiele

    Why banks must curb fraud, by Emefiele

    Which continent has the highest fraud cases? It is Africa, according to the 2013 Global Fraud Report.

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, who made this known at the Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCOBIN) Conference in Lagos, said the report was a wake-up call for the region’s financial institutions to stem fraud and related incidences.

    According to him, among other regions surveyed, Sub-Saharan Africa scored 77 per cent as the area with the most prevalent fraud problems. For physical assets thefts, it scored 47 per cent; corruption, 30 per cent; regulatory or compliance breaches, 22 per cent; internal financial frauds, 27 per cent and misappropriation of organisational funds, 17 per cent. It also showed that 2.4 per cent of the regions revenues are lost to fraud.

    Represented by Deputy Governor, Operations Adebayo Adelabu, Emefiele said though the need for compliance has imposed additional costs on banks, the right thing must be done to protect the system from local and international fraudsters.

    He advised banks to always comply with regulations as risks of non-compliance is costly, saying: “If they think compliance is costly, let them try non-compliance.”

    Emefiele said while fraud and corruption were international in coverage, their incidence was pronounced in third world countries, including Nigeria because of result of perverse incentives.

    To overcome this challenge, he said financial institutions were required to keep track of transactions involving high risk customers, such as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and Financially Exposed Persons (FEPs).

    He said it was because of these consequences that regulatory bodies, have set up standards and regulations to curb the menace.

    Emefiele said Nigeria has adequate legal and regulatory measures for addressing breaches of the Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (EDD) provisions. “It is the application of these KYC provisions that are meant to reveal illegitimate sources of funds and trigger investigation by relevant stakeholders that matters. Like in many developing countries, compliance has been a major regulatory challenge in Nigeria,” he said.

    In his presentation, founder and Managing Director, DataPro Limited Abimbola Adeseyoju said criminals know that there are compliance procedures, such as KYC. They, therefore, come prepared, hence the need for lenders to go the extra mile in verifying their customers’ identities.

    He said fraudsters either modify their identity slightly, or create a synthetic identity which can be detected through a Link Analysis Solution. This applies advanced analysis to determine the risk level for both the network and every individual associated with the network, he said.

    Examples of attributes that could be shared and linked are Personal Identity Information, Account Information and Transactional Information.

    “Once the entities are linked together, advanced analytics are applied to determine the level of risk and create a risk score. The i2 Notebook used by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIUs), among others, enables them to search multiple data sources simultaneously, find hidden links and entities and visualise transactions and timelines,” he said.

    Adeseyoju advised financial institutions to pay special attention to all complex, unusually large transactions, or unusual patterns of transactions that have no visible economic or lawful purpose. Continuing, he said the lenders should investigate suspicious transaction and report its findings to the NFIU immediately.

    Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have in the last three years committed over N2 billion to the KYC, CDD and EDD provisions, The Nation has learnt.

    Management Executive, Obrien Research & Data Management Bright James said so much investment was going into KYC, CDD, EDD, pension statement verification and reference letters for banks’ staff, adding that the lenders were going the extra mile in verifying customers’ details at the commencement of business relationship.

    The verification, he said, became more helpful for banks, especially in handling those seeking credit, or customers that want to borrow.

    “The KYC verification by independent enquiry is good for banks. Bank staff are doing their best in carrying out these roles, but contracting it to consultants has proved to be more reliable for banks,” he said.

  • MTN sacked me for reporting ‘fraud’ to EFCC, ex-manager tells court

    MTN sacked me for reporting ‘fraud’ to EFCC, ex-manager tells court

    A former General Manager for Internal Audit at MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Thuli Mashanda, has told the National Industrial Court of Nigeria that the company sacked her because she reported an alleged act of fraud to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Testifying for a former Network Group Operations Manager, Mr Paul Odunewu, who sued MTN, Mashanda said her employers were not happy when she made a report to the anti-graft agency.

    Odunewu accused the company of withholding his entitlements, including a long-term incentive scheme (share option) worth over $13.14 million (about N2.1 billion). He is also demanding N100 million damages, among others.

    The embattled manager said despite being responsible for MTN’s initial growth in Nigeria – having been persuaded to return home from the United Kingdom (UK) to develop telecommunication in Nigeria – he became a victim of racism in the company and his contract subsequently terminated.

    “I built the engine of the defendant’s business in Nigeria, including people and process technology,” Odunewu said.

    Corroborating Odunewu’s testimony that some MTN’s workers were allegedly victimised, Mashanda, a South African, said she was improperly queried for doing what she thought was right, and was eventually fired.

    She said: “The query was improper because I reported fraud to the EFCC when they stole money. MTN did not want that to happen because the whites were transferring money illegally out of MTN Nigeria abroad. Hence, they terminated my employment.”

    Mashanda said she became a victim of her professionalism, adding: “I don’t recall that I parted in good terms with the company because I was doing the work that I was paid to do.”.

    Defendants in the suit are: MTN Group Limited, South Africa; MTN Nigeria and MTN International, Mauritius.

    Odunewu said prior to the “malicious” termination of his appointment, his impeccable record and achievements at MTN came under serious attacks in 2006 from “a group of white South African racists posted to Nigeria to oversee Network Group Management”.

    He said a particular white South African expatriate was “perturbed and astonished by the wealth of experience displayed by the claimant and set out on a collision course with him”.

    Matters got to a head when Odunewu said he received a letter, dated February 28, 2006, purportedly terminating his appointment. His access to MTN network was revoked.