The Coalition also demanded urgent investigation of the Guaranty Trust Bank Limited over alleged use of customers/investors' funds to pay penalties in the United Kingdom.
The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance in Nigeria (CCSGGN) has protested at the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja, kicking against the alleged fraud and financial irregularities against Guaranty Trust Bank Limited under Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer.
The Coalition also demanded urgent investigation of the Guaranty Trust Bank Limited over alleged use of customers/investors' funds to pay penalties in the United Kingdom.
The protest was in alignment with the allegation and previous protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, October 8, by the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), which accused the bank of fraud, financial irregularities, massive corruption, amongst others.
SaharaReporters had reported that the GICN had released a report signed by its President, Edwin Omaga, levelling allegations of "unscrupulous, unethical and criminal activities" against the bank.
Agbaje has been the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company since August 2021.
The GICN had in a statement noted that its Private Investigation Report (PIR) was compiled pursuant to Section 24 (d) and (e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) read together with our Objective No.2.
On Tuesday, the Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance in Nigeria in a protest statement issued by its chief convener, Comrade Tijani Usman, said that its expectation in the GTB case was that the Nigeria Police Force being the lead crime fighting agency in Nigeria would take side with the masses by acting on certain recommendations put forward by other civil society organisations.
Usman stated, “As a matter of fact, the weighty allegations levelled against GTB under the watchful eyes of Segun Agbaje ought to have opened room for further investigation and prosecution of the culprits involved. Unfortunately, this never happened till date for reasons unknown to us.”
He said, “Whilst we acknowledge the powers of the Nigeria Police Force under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020 and other extant laws to investigate crimes and prosecute offenders, we strongly feel that they must be used properly so that “the hunter does not become the hunted”.
“We are here this morning to insist that the Police should focus more on digging deep into the allegations. We call on the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services not to sit on the fence.
“It is our demand that the Inspector-General of Police hears our cry and urgently investigate the activities of GTB under the leadership of Segun Agbaje.
“We shall continue to engage peacefully with the relevant Regulatory and Crime Fighting Agencies on this matter.
“We shall leave no stone unturned until justice is not only done, but seen clearly by all men and women of goodwill to have been done to customers and investors of GTB.”