‘It Was A Legitimate Operation’ — Union Bank Explains $2.8bn Confiscated At Enugu Airport

The Management of Union Bank has revealed that the men who were apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Enugu Airport were on a lawful duties.

Naija News reported that two men were paraded by the EFCC as alleged fraudsters who were in possession of $2.8 million.

#MoneyLaundering EFCC intercepts $2.8million at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The couriers have given useful information to investigators. >> https://t.co/5ciI0VudaS pic.twitter.com/tJhYXO0VN9

— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) December 21, 2018

Union Bank on its twitter handle explained that the operation was licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Movement of cash across states is routine for all bank. Bankers Warehouse is licensed by CBN to provide Cash-in-Transit services,” the bank said.

“We are surprised by the release of a news bulletin prior to the completion of @officialefcc investigation. This is a legitimate and routine operation consistent with banking.”

1: Movement of cash across states is routine for all banks.

— Union Bank of Nigeria (@UNIONBANK_NG) December 21, 2018

In reaction to this development, Bankers’ warehouse have written to the CBN.

In a letter addressed to the CBN deputy governor, Lawrence Ijebor, Bankers Warehouse head of operations, said the EFCC insisted on detaining their employees despite the means of identification provided.

“Despite the information provided, the EFCC insisted on detaining our employees, taking possession of our goods and threatening to confiscate the currency, without making themselves available to our senior managers or other agencies familiar with our movements,” the letter read.

“We seek your intervention as our regulator, to address this issue of constant harassment of our staff, by security agencies.”