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Customer Raises Alarm as N350m Disappears from his Access Bank Accounts

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Serious trouble may be brewing for Access Bank Plc as Mr Pascal Nwabueze Innocent has alleged that over N350 million been fraudulently withdrawn from the two accounts he operates with the bank without his authorization.

 

Mr Pascal Nwabueze Innocent raised the alarm when he discovered that over N116 million has been fraudulently withdrawn from both his personal and corporate accounts with the bank.

 

However, in the course of probing into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the N116 million, the customer further discovered that over N350 million was missing from the account.

 

The businessman said  that the two accounts from which the funds were withdrawn are from his personal account and De Chimex Aluminum & Steel Company Limited, a corporate account both operated by Pascal Nwabueze Innocent and domiciled at the Access Bank Plc, Wuse Market branch, Abuja.

 

According to him, the latest fraud is even separate from over N74 million which the bank was said to have appropriated in 2016 when he installed heavy duty machines which he imported from China.

 

It was gathered that when he approached the bank through a letter dated July 5, 2018, to ascertain who and how the transaction were carried out, Access  Bank, in their reply dated July 9, the bank assured him that it “has commenced investigation into the alleged unauthorized fraudulent withdrawals from your account”

 

Access Bank also requested him to provide “the details of the transactions in other to assist in their investigation, promising to furnish him with the outcome of their investigation.

 

It was further gathered that the request made by Nwabueze Innocent for Access Bank to furnish him with that instruments used in the withdrawals were rebuffed by the bank.

 

However, it was also learnt that rather than keep it promise of furnishing the customer the findings of their investigation, Access Bank reported the Nwabueze Innocent to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), FCT Command.

 

It was further learnt that it was when the Police stepped into the matter that the bank reluctantly made available 43 Fund Transfer/Standing Order Forms, out of which only five were authorized by Nwabueze Innocent while the remaining 38 were “unauthorized and fraudulent”.

 

Top Police sources said preliminary report of the investigation has shown that it was a clear case of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and outright theft.

 

According to Police sources, Access Bank is “becoming hesitant in responding to several issues relating to the withdrawals from the two accounts maintained by Nwabueze Innocent.

 

For instance, it was learnt that the bank is being reluctant to produce the original mandate for the withdrawals and the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage between May 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 when the fraudulent transactions were made.

 

According to sources familiar with the police investigations, central to the whole drama around the illegal withdrawals from the two accounts was one Ms Uche Gloria Michael Sado, a staff of Access Bank who is also the accounts officer for the two accounts.

 

Investigations by the Police was said to have revealed that funds were pulled from the two accounts maintained by Nwabueze Innocent and channeled to Mikuch Global Limited, from where the funds are withdrawn and disbursed among the “beneficiaries” of the fraudulent act.

 

It was further discovered during the police investigations that Mikuch Global Limited is owned by one Michael Sado, alleged husband to Ms Uche Gloria Michael, the Account Officer to the two banks from which the withdrawals were made.

 

According to Police sources, the fraud was perfected by forging the signature, telephone number and company name of the two accounts while at the same time diverting the Alert from the original telephone number of the account holder.

 

Police investigations also showed that Access Bank is being economical with the truth as the Uche Gloria Michael Sado, whom the bank is alleging to have “stolen” the funds and is alleged to be on the run is still on the payroll of the bank.


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E-Financial

Access Bank Unveils DiamondXtra Season 16, Dangles N200m, 3 SUVs

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The sixteenth season of DiamondXtra, a savings and reward account where customers of Access Bank are rewarded with several prizes, have been unveiled in Lagos.

Access Bank Unveils DiamondXtra Season 16, Dangles N200m, 3 SUVs

 L – R : Doris Okpara, Product Manager, DiamondXtra; Ngozi Igboanugo, Regional sales Manager Festac 1&2 & mainland Access Bank; Bolarinwa Animashaun, Regional Sales Director Lagos 2 Access Bank ; Emeka Ezikeugo, Diamondxtra N200,000 Onsite winner; and Adaeze Ume, Head Consumer liabilities, Access Bank during the launch of Diamondxtra Season 16 held at Alaba International Market Lagos yesterday.

The Season 16th of the special interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third-party cheques has been upgraded as customers will win prizes to the value of N200 million and three SUVs, amongs other mouthwatering prizes.

Speaking at the unveiling in Alaba International Market, Lagos, Mr Bolarinwa Animashaun, regional sales director, Lagos, said the new season will bring more goodies to the customers as the bank has taken their interest at heart.

“In the last fifteen years, we have been able to ensure customer loyalty, reward committed customers over time and show that we are a bank that is ready to empower people and partner with people.

“If I take it into specific figures, we have rewarded 26,696 customers and we’ve given a total sum of N6.5 billion over the period.

This Season16is interesting, because, we have seen a lot of opportunities to expand into digital opportunities and this time around, we will be rewarding 15,786 customers, and 10,000 of them will be digitally rewarded.

“This is almost half of what we have done over the last 15 years. So that is what is making it special. We have takenit into the possibilities of how technology can expand our business and reward customers”.

The draws for the new season are going to be the same like the previous ones as it will be held in different regions.

“So, we start from the monthly draws, quarterly draws and the annual draws. What makes it extremely interesting this year is that we will be rewarding with up to N200 million in prizes and we have added some very interesting gifts. We will be given out three SUVs as part of the N200 million price for this year”, Animashaun added.

At the unveiling, Access Bank conducted onsite draws where 48 customers who have DiamondXtra accounts and were present at the unveiling won cash prizes ranging from N20,000 to N200,000.

Breakdown shows 40 customers won N20,000 each, five customers won N50,000, two customers won N100,000, while one customer went home with N200,000.

Among winners of the N20,000 prize was Mr Victor Edobor, who said he opened the DiamondXtra accounts 24-hours before the draws.

One of the two winners of the N100,000 prize, Mrs. Maureen Nneka Oforka, said she was surprised to have won at the well-attended event as that was her first time winning any prize.

She said, “I have never won any prize in my life. This is my first. I came here reluctantly and thank God, I am here and I am a winner of N100,000 which has already been paid into my account.

The grand prize winner of N200,000, Mr. Emeka Ezikeugo, a trader in Alaba, said. “I will forever be grateful to Access Bank for the prize as I was not expecting it. I thank the bank for showing leadership among its peers”.

To be part of the winning train and qualify for the DiamondXtra season 16 which is open to both new and existing customers, new customers are required to open a DiamondXtra savings account with just N5,000 by dialling *901*5# or walking into one of our branches to open the account.

However, the more multiples of N5,000 both new and old customers save, the higher their chances of winning at the monthly, quarterly and annual draws.

DiamondXtra is an interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third party cheques. Hybrid means a combination of both savings and current account features. The DiamondXtra reward scheme has given away over N6.5 billion in cash and household items to over 15,000 loyal customers over the last 15years.  Please click HERE to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Lafarge Africa Launches Girls-in-Tech Programme to Empower Women Innovators

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Recognising the underrepresentation of women in the technology sector, Lafarge Africa Plc, has launched the Girls in Tech Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering young women in technology.

Meticulously crafted to bridge the gender gap in tech and empower 10 young females between the ages of 18-25 years from Lafarge Africa Host communities in Cross River State, the program is poised to make a significant impact in the region.

The Girls in Tech Program seeks to harness the unique talents of these young women and introduce them to the dynamic world of technology. By providing them with essential skills and opportunities, the initiative aspires to equip them to become self-reliant as well as problem solvers in society.

In collaboration with Aptech and Arena Multimedia,globally recognized leaders in technology incubation and opportunity, as well as The Bridge Leadership Foundation, the boot camp promises to be a transformative experience for the participating girls, who are eager to make their mark in the tech industry.

Speaking during the onboarding to flag-off in Calabar recently, the Plant Manager, Lafarge Africa Plc, Sotirios Valsamakis, who was represented by the Human Resources Business Partner, Lafarge Africa Plc; Barong Ita, revealed that the program was in line with the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

She also added that the initiative is designed to ignite a spark of inspiration, hope, and possibilities in the heart of the selected girls across the host communities.

“As an organization, people are an integral part of our sustainability drive, and we are invested in building lasting progress by empowering members of our host communities. We also recognize the need for greater and greener diversity and inclusivity within the tech sector.”

Today’s event is not just about launching a program. It is about igniting a spark of inspiration, hope, and possibilities in the hearts of these young women. It is about challenging stereotypes.”

Also speaking at the event, the Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Science, Innovation & Technology, Justin Beshel represented by Edwin Adie, Technical Senior Advisor, Cross Rivers State Ministry of Science & Technology commended Lafarge Africa for the initiative adding that it is in line with the State government’s plan towards science, technology and innovation development.


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Hydrogen, CCHub Partner to Encourage Fintech Startup Success

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As the country faces economic challenges, the need for adaptive strategies in the fintech industry becomes paramount. In line with this, leading Fintech startup, Hydrogen Payment Services Limited (‘Hydrogen’), has teamed up with Co-creation Hub (‘CcHub’) to host an insightful event themed, ‘Adapting Fintech Business Models to Economic Climes’.

The event, set to take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 12:00 WAT at the CcHub office in Sabo, Lagos, will delve deep into the intricacies of Nigeria’s economic challenges and how these influence the fintech ecosystem.

Participants will gain actionable insights on how to adapt fintech business models to volatile economic conditions by prioritising flexibility, agility, and customer-centricity.

This collaboration underscores the shared commitment of both entities to empower aspiring founders venturing into the Fintech space amidst economic uncertainties.

By leveraging their respective expertise and resources, Hydrogen and CcHub aim to equip emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to thrive in today’s dynamic economic conditions.

Emeka Awagu, Chief Technology Officer at Hydrogen, commented on the strategic partnership with CcHUB: “Our alliance with CcHUB amplifies our shared commitment to pioneering transformative solutions in Nigeria’s fintech sector.

“By leveraging Hydrogen’s technological expertise alongside CcHUB’s innovative approach, we are primed to set a new standard for fintech excellence and drive impactful change across the industry.”

The event will feature a distinguished panel of industry experts and thought leaders, including, Ina Alogwu, Group Director, Digital Transformation, ARM HoldCo; Emeka Awagu, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrogen, and Miracle Ezechi, Digital Marketing Manager, Hydrogen.

The panel discussion will be moderated to encourage an engaging and insightful conversation on the strategies and innovations required to thrive in Nigeria’s Fintech landscape amidst economic challenges.


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