By Dipo Olowookere
Sharp practices by banks operating in Nigeria have continued to increase each year and this is giving those in authority sleepless nights.
Some days ago, Head of Communications and Public Affairs Unit of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr Mohammed Kudu Ibrahim, said in a statement that in 2017, the number of fraud cases at banks in Nigeria rose by 56.3 percent to 26,132 from 16,751 recorded in 2016, resulting in the loss of N2.37 billion during the period under review.
“Similarly, the amount involved in the fraudulent activities documented increased by N3.33 billion from the N8.68 billion reported in 2016 to N12.01 billion in 2017 or 38 percent,” he said.
According to him, the number of employees of banks involved in malpractices in the financial sector increased in 2017 to 320 from 231 in 2016.
Mr Ibrahim had lamented that the cases of fraud in the banking industry was rising and a panel would be set up to probe the affected banks.
Speaking on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Manager in charge of Research Department at the NDIC, Mr Adikwu Igoche, said a help desk has been created by the corporation to help bank customers with complaints of sharp practices by banks
“The corporation operates a robust 24 hours national help desk with a toll-free telephone line number 080063424357.
“The desk is for further information and enquires on depositors’ claim settlement and complaints or sharp practices by their banks.
“The general public can also access our website on www.ndic.gov.ng,” Mr Igoche said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale