Banking
Emefiele, Bank MDs to Face Senate Over Illegal Charges
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has been asked to appear before the Senate to explain reason for excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions allegedly by commercial banks operating in the country.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions also asked the Managing Directors of the lenders to appear before it.
This followed a motion moved at the plenary on Tuesday by Senator Magnus Abe titled ‘Urgent need to investigate, regularize and amend conflicting, vague and unjust remedies which the Central Bank of Nigeria offers to victims of Excess and Arbitrary Bank Charges and Illegal Deductions by Commercial Banks.’
The lawmaker said the upper parliament needs to urgently investigate, regularize and amend conflicting, vague and unjust remedies which the CBN offers to victims of excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks.
He warned that, “If this trend is allowed to continue unabated, Nigerians will be worse for it, while the commercial banks will continue to declare huge profits at the expense of innocent Nigerians from regular depositors to business firms.”
According to him, the CBN on the 20th February reported that it had recovered about N2.6 billion from banks as excess charges imposed on their customers in 2015 through a statement issued by the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr Muazu Ibrahim.
Mr Abe noted that in 2015 alone, the apex bank investigated about 6,000 of such cases.
He expressed concern that several of the Central Bank of Nigeria applicable rules that should remedy such hardship and discourage sharp practices by the commercial banks are conflicting, vague and unjust. There by causing the commercial banks to frequently short change their customers;
The Senator added that requests made by Bank Customers to the Central Bank of Nigeria for clarification of the rules are largely ignored.
In his contribution, Senator Dino Melaye raised the issues of no consent of deduction from banks on its customers as this has led to maximum profits over time by banks across the country and also called the attention of the Senate to direct the banks to contact the next of kin of dead customers as this has been a norm by banking sectors not declaring or contacting the next of kin rather than been secretive about the funds in the account.
“Banks need to be honest to its customers and there is need for the Senate to find out who in authority conferred such power to banks to make such deductions from customers without their consent, and what the money is being used for,” Senator Isah Misau said.
At the end of deliberations, the Senate resolved to urge the government to proactively protect customers rights, eradicate short payments of interest and end the culture of excess and arbitrary bank charges, these steps if taken will reposition the bank to avert future re-occurrence.
It also directed its committee on banking to conduct a public hearing and invite the CBN Governor, his officials and other stakeholders such as forensic auditors, MDs of commercial banks and bankers committee with a view to harmonizing and amending these laws, rules and guidelines that do not adequately protect the customers and give them substantial remedy when overcharged.
“I commend this very important motion particularly at this difficult time when every Naira is important.
“We must be seen to defend the interest of Nigerians who don’t have the voice to defend themselves. Again, the issue here is to get to the bottom of what the laws and guidelines are, and we should show that they are in line with laws and we have the powers to make such pronouncements,” the Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki, said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it will enforce penalties against designated banks that delay the remittance of customs revenue, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency and safeguarding government earnings.
This was disclosed in a statement on the NCS official account on X, formerly known as Twitter and signed by its spokesman, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, who said the delays undermine the efficiency, transparency, and integrity of government revenue administration.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has noted instances of delayed remittance of customs revenue by some designated banks following reconciliation of collections processed through the B’odogwu platform,” the statement read.
“Such delays constitute a breach of remittance obligations and negatively impact the efficiency, transparency, and integrity of government revenue administration.
“In line with the provisions of the Service Level Agreement executed between the Nigeria Customs Service and designated banks, the Service hereby notifies stakeholders of the commencement of enforcement actions against banks found to be in default of agreed remittance timelines.”
Mr Maiwada disclosed that any bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed timeline will be liable to penalty interest calculated at three per cent above the prevailing Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate for the period of the delay.
He added that affected banks would be formally notified of the delayed amounts, the applicable penalty, and the deadline for settlement.
“Accordingly, any designated bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed period shall be liable to penalty interest calculated at three per cent above the prevailing Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate for the duration of the delay.
“Affected banks will receive formal notifications indicating the delayed amount, applicable penalty, and the timeline for settlement,” the statement read.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The deputy managing director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Limited, Mr Ini Ebong, has offloaded some shares of FBN Holdings Plc, the parent firm of the banking institution.
A regulatory notice from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited confirmed the development on Thursday.
It was disclosed that the transaction occurred on Friday, December 12, 2025, on the floor of the stock exchange.
The sale involved about 11.8 million shares, precisely 11,783,333 units traded at N31.14 per share, amounting to about N366.9 million.
Mr Ebong, who studied Architecture from University of Ife and obtained Bachelor and Master of Science degrees, became the DMD of First Bank in June 2024. Prior to this appointment, he was Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking since January 2022.
He was previously the Group Executive, Treasury and International Banking, a position he held since 2016 after serving as the bank’s Treasurer from 2011 to 2016.
Before joining First Bank, he was the Head of African Fixed Income and Local Markets Trading, Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian registered subsidiary of Renaissance Capital. He also worked with Citigroup for 14 years as Country Treasurer and Sales and Trading Business Head.
He has a passion for market development and has worked actively to drive change and internationalisation of the Nigerian financial markets: foreign exchange, fixed income and securities.
He has worked closely with regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO) in assisting with the development of fresh monetary and foreign exchange policies, to broaden and deepen markets and open them up to international practices.
At various times he has facilitated and delivered courses and seminars on a wide variety of subjects covering Money Markets, Securities and Foreign exchange trading and market risk management subjects to regulators, corporate customers, banks and market participants.
By Margaret Banasko
Urbanization is reshaping Nigeria’s economic landscape, creating new possibilities for millions of young people who relocate each year in search of opportunity. Cities like Lagos, Kano, and Abuja continue to expand as ambitious Nigerians leave their hometowns with the hope of building stable, sustainable livelihoods.
Recent figures highlight the pace of this shift. As of 2024, more than half of Nigeria’s population – around 128 million people – live in urban areas. Many of these individuals are young entrepreneurs and self-employed workers determined to turn their skills, ideas, and hustle into meaningful income. However, navigating the financial requirements needed to sustain and grow a small business is often challenging for those operating in informal or early-stage sectors.
This is where digital financial platforms have become transformational. With only a mobile phone, an internet connection, and a Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigerians are increasingly able to access a wider range of financial tools designed to support their daily needs and long-term goals. FairMoney is among the institutions driving this progress by offering services that meet people where they are and support their ambition to grow.
Aigbe Osasere’s experience reflects this evolution. He moved from Benin City to Lagos with the goal of establishing a fish farming business in Ijegun, Alimosho. His vision was clear: create a small, efficient operation that could supply fresh fish to local buyers. Like many small business owners, he needed reliable access to funds to purchase fingerlings, buy feed, replace equipment, and maintain steady production. Managing these cycles required financial tools that matched the fast pace of his operations.
Through the FairMoney app, Aigbe gained access to digital banking services immediately after completing BVN verification. The availability of instant loans provided the flexibility he needed to restock quickly and maintain continuous production. For a business model where timing is central to profitability, this support allowed him to keep his operations consistent and responsive to customer demand.
Opening a FairMoney bank account and receiving a physical debit card further strengthened his business structure. Bulk buyers began paying him directly into his account, giving him clearer financial records and better visibility into his daily revenue. With his debit card, he could purchase supplies, withdraw cash conveniently, and manage his finances in a more organized way.
Aigbe also adopted FairMoney’s savings features to help him preserve and grow his earnings. By setting aside a portion of his daily sales, he is gradually building the capital needed to increase his fish tanks, expand his capacity, and move toward a more scalable operation.
Beyond supporting his business, FairMoney has become part of his everyday life. From the app, he sends money to family members, pays bills, buys airtime and data, and settles electricity tokens quickly and efficiently. This convenience allows him to focus more fully on running and growing his business.
Aigbe’s story is one example of how digital banking is broadening access to financial services across Nigeria. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, traders, and young workers are increasingly leveraging digital platforms to manage money, plan for growth, and participate more actively in the financial system.
As more Nigerians pursue self-employment and urban entrepreneurship, tools that offer accessibility, speed, and flexibility are playing an important role in supporting their progress. With FairMoney, many are finding a dependable partner that aligns with their goals, their pace, and their vision for the future.
Margaret Banasko is the Head of Marketing at FairMoney MFB
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