Bank customers lost N2.25bn to fraudsters in 2015– CBN

Bank customers lost the sum of N2.25bn to fraudsters in 2015 despite a significant fall in the value of financial frauds recorded last year, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc showed.

In 2014, fraudsters made 1,461 attempts to steal N7.8bn, but succeeded in stealing N6.2bn.

The NIBSS and the CBN gave the statistics at the Cybersecurity and Banking Fraud Summit 2016 held in Lagos.

The summit was organised by Maxut Consulting in collaboration with Vasco, an online authentication firm from Europe.

The Head, Industry and Security Service, NIBSS, Mr. Femi Fadairo, said, “Though there were 10, 743 attempts to steal N4.3bn, only about N2.25bn was eventually stolen from Nigerians by fraudsters last year (2015).

 “Between 2014 and 2015, the financial sector recorded 63.7 per cent reduction in actual fraud losses. More fraud cases were reported by the banks in 2015 compared to 2014.”

Fadairo said that the Automated Teller Machine was more vulnerable to frauds in 2015 and would even be the most targeted platform in 2016.

He said the fraud volume through the ATM in 2015 was 5,133 and valued at N355, 892, 201.30.

“Point of Sales had 1,853 volume, valued at N63, 533, 467.48; Internet banking volume was 727 and valued at N263, 995, 257.70; web volume was 1,463 and valued at N173, 472, 360.60; cheque in terms of volume had 40 valued at N167, 413, 696, among others,” he added.

The Managing Director, NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, had earlier called for collaboration among financial and relevant institutions in checking such fraud cases in the future.

“While we work on collaborations, we should also consider the need to rewrite certain level of risks. This can only be achieved if we begin to pay the customer for a losss,” Shonubi added.

The Director, Banking and Payments Systems, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said that the central bank had remained in the forefront of ensuring that banking security was not upended.

“This resonates firmly with one of the bank’s core mandates, which is, ‘To promote a sound financial system in Nigeria’. This we have achieved with the Nigeria electronic Fraud Forum,” he said.

An assistant director at the CBN, Mr. Sola Agboola, represented Fatokun.

He said that NeFF had also continued in its collaborative efforts aimed at cementing its relationship with law enforcement agencies through a visit to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

Fatokun said, “The visit received a huge boost when the Inspector General of Police ordered the immediate establishment of dedicated e-Payment and Card Crime Unit in the Nigeria Police at the request of the bank.

“In the same vein, the Chief Justice of Nigeria was visited by the forum in 2015. This visit also strengthened the forum’s relationship with the judiciary. At the meeting, the chief justice affirmed his commitment to the objectives of the forum.”

The CBN director noted that the proposed Nigerian Risk Information Centre, aimed at reducing bank-related frauds through effective public-private partnerships, was first mooted at NeFF.

“This proposal is currently receiving management’s attention to come to life,” he added.

Bank customers lost N2.25bn to fraudsters in 2015– CBN

Ozioma Ubabukoh

Bank customers lost the sum of N2.25bn to fraudsters in 2015 despite a significant fall in the value of financial frauds recorded last year, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc showed.

In 2014, fraudsters made 1,461 attempts to steal N7.8bn, but succeeded in stealing N6.2bn.

The NIBSS and the CBN gave the statistics at the Cybersecurity and Banking Fraud Summit 2016 held in Lagos.

The summit was organised by Maxut Consulting in collaboration with Vasco, an online authentication firm from Europe.

The Head, Industry and Security Service, NIBSS, Mr. Femi Fadairo, said, “Though there were 10, 743 attempts to steal N4.3bn, only about N2.25bn was eventually stolen from Nigerians by fraudsters last year (2015).

 “Between 2014 and 2015, the financial sector recorded 63.7 per cent reduction in actual fraud losses. More fraud cases were reported by the banks in 2015 compared to 2014.”

Fadairo said that the Automated Teller Machine was more vulnerable to frauds in 2015 and would even be the most targeted platform in 2016.

He said the fraud volume through the ATM in 2015 was 5,133 and valued at N355, 892, 201.30.

“Point of Sales had 1,853 volume, valued at N63, 533, 467.48; Internet banking volume was 727 and valued at N263, 995, 257.70; web volume was 1,463 and valued at N173, 472, 360.60; cheque in terms of volume had 40 valued at N167, 413, 696, among others,” he added.

The Managing Director, NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, had earlier called for collaboration among financial and relevant institutions in checking such fraud cases in the future.

“While we work on collaborations, we should also consider the need to rewrite certain level of risks. This can only be achieved if we begin to pay the customer for a losss,” Shonubi added.

The Director, Banking and Payments Systems, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said that the central bank had remained in the forefront of ensuring that banking security was not upended.

“This resonates firmly with one of the bank’s core mandates, which is, ‘To promote a sound financial system in Nigeria’. This we have achieved with the Nigeria electronic Fraud Forum,” he said.

An assistant director at the CBN, Mr. Sola Agboola, represented Fatokun.

He said that NeFF had also continued in its collaborative efforts aimed at cementing its relationship with law enforcement agencies through a visit to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

Fatokun said, “The visit received a huge boost when the Inspector General of Police ordered the immediate establishment of dedicated e-Payment and Card Crime Unit in the Nigeria Police at the request of the bank.

“In the same vein, the Chief Justice of Nigeria was visited by the forum in 2015. This visit also strengthened the forum’s relationship with the judiciary. At the meeting, the chief justice affirmed his commitment to the objectives of the forum.”

The CBN director noted that the proposed Nigerian Risk Information Centre, aimed at reducing bank-related frauds through effective public-private partnerships, was first mooted at NeFF.

“This proposal is currently receiving management’s attention to come to life,” he added.

Ebola returns to Liberia months after nation declared free of virus

Two months after Liberia was declared free of Ebola, three confirmed cases of the deadly disease have emerged in the West African nation.

The nation's health ministry said a new case was confirmed Thursday, when blood samples from a patient admitted in a hospital the same week tested positive.

Two other high-risk contacts also tested positive, and all three are undergoing care at an Ebola treatment center in the capital of Monrovia, the health ministry said in a statement.

More than 40 contacts are being monitored, said Margaret Ann Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization.

"It is possible that we will find more cases," said Dr. Bernice Dahn, Liberia's' health minister. "The key is to stop it, find the source, and prevent the next one."

Liberia was first declared Ebola-free in May, but new cases later emerged.

Following another period of 42 days, two times the maximum incubation period, the WHO announced in September that Liberia was Ebola-free for the second time.

Dahn said despite the setback, she's optimistic her nation will win the fight against Ebola.

"We must not lose hope and continue the practices we used to beat Ebola before," she said. "We can win this battle again."

With 4,808 deaths from Ebola, Liberia has the highest number of fatalities from the outbreak, followed by Sierra Leone and Guinea.

More than 11,300 people died from the disease and 28,600 others were infected, mostly in the three countries, according to the latest WHO data.

Rivers Re-run: INEC did not disqualify PDP candidate – REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election.

NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes.

Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election.

“The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless.

He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied.

Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/vv

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-recv

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election. NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes. Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election. “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said. The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless. He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied. Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/rivers-re-run-inec-not-disqualify-pdp-candidate-rec/

Fayose condemns arrest of 76 Igbo over protest against herdsmen

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has condemned the arrest of 76 Igbo villagers from Ugwuneshi Autonomous community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, following a clash between the natives and Fulani herdsmen, saying that, “It has gotten to a level that lovers of peace in Nigeria must speak out on this keg of gun powder which the threat that the Fulani herdsmen has become.”
No fewer than 76 men from the Ugwuneshi Autonomous Community were, last Thursday, arrested and whisked away by “men in military uniform” after they protested the continued destruction of their crops and farmlands by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle who settled in the area without permission.
Reacting to the alleged arrest, Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said President Mohammadu Buhari should address the killing of Nigerians and destruction of farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen.
Fayose, who called for an immediate and unconditional release of the 76 Igbo villagers, said that the President Mohammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government must not give impression that the Fulani herdsmen were lords in other people’s lands.
Governor Fayose said the Fulani herdsmen were giving impression that they now own Nigeria and could perpetrate any crime and get away with it.
He said;  “It is worrisome that the Fulani herdsmen that killed over 400 Agatus in Benue State, raped women and destroyed farmlands in the North Central, South West and South South zones of Nigeria are walking the streets free, while Igbo people, who opted to defend their sources of livelihood are languishing in detention.
“Are they saying that those Igbo villagers do not have rights to defend their farmlands from further destruction by the Fulani herdsmen, when the president who should defend them is keeping silent?
“These people must be released by whichever security agency of the federal government that is holding them, because Nigerians don’t deserve to be treated like slaves in their own house.”

Lagos denies cancellation of monthly sanitation

The Lagos State Government has clarified reports making rounds on social media that the monthly environmental sanitation  has been outlawed, saying that the policy on the monthly exercise had not been reviewed for now.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the government said the erroneous story which was attributed to the State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, was inaccurate.
Ayorinde said that Adejare was misquoted when he indicated that the restriction of movement may be dispensed with; he did not, in any way, suggest that the monthly sanitation had been outlawed.
Ayorinde said, “While Dr. Adejare did meet with journalists today and indicated that the restriction of movement every last Saturday of the month would ultimately be dispensed with, he did not say the monthly sanitation exercise would no longer hold in Lagos.
“The last two sanitation exercises could not hold due to the JAMB examination in February and the Easter celebration in March. Nevertheless, the Lagos State Government has always encouraged residents to clean their environment and observe hygienic behaviour, without necessarily having to shut the state down.
“It is the wish of Lagos State government to ensure that every part of the state is clean with wastes properly disposed of.”

Anambra PDP: Factional candidates protest at INEC, EU office
Demand Certificates of Return

AGGRIEVED members of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) from Anambra State, yesterday stormed the national sec­retariat of the Independent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) to demand certificates of return.
The protesters expressed regret that INEC has re­fused to comply with a court judgment which asked the commission to issue them Certificates of Return.
Anthony Offiah led oth­er protesters who include Emmanuel Nweke; Bene­dict Obaze, Charles Ode­do and Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonwu, Uchenna Obi, Ejike Nwene and Ju­lius Oforma.
Addressing news­men on behalf of his col­leagues, Offiah recalled that on December 5, 2015 a Federal High Court pre­sided over by Justice E.S Chukwu gave a judgment in their favour which or­dered PDP and INEC to “recognise and deal with our party chairman and his executive in all matters pertaining to elections in the state as contained in the party’s constitution.”
According to him, “only the list of candidates that emanated from the par­ty’s primaries in which this executive participated in must be recognised by both PDP and INEC.”
He further declared that the electoral body, in com­pliance with the judgment monitored the primaries that produced them as candidates and they were ultimately declared as flag bearers.
The protesters, who stormed INEC office as early as 9:00am and later staged similar protest at the secretariat of the Eu­ropean Union said INEC showed its bias by seek­ing clarification over a Su­preme Court ruling which set aside an Appeal Court ruling which had earlier upturned a Federal High Court ruling.
They expressed concern that their seats were be­ing occupied illegally.
Offiah declared that several letters writ­ten to INEC to give them certificates of return after the Supreme Court struck out INEC’s suit to seek clarification, fell on deaf ears.
“We entreat the chair­man of INEC to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court which re­stored the Federal High Court judgment and or­dered INEC to issue us our certificates of return.
“We are the beneficia­ries of this judgment of the Federal High Court which has now been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
“Our appeal at the Su­preme Court was decided on January 29, 2016 and the appeal succeeded, set­ting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and upholding the judgment of the Federal High Court.
“We wrote INEC re­questing them to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court that upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court which brought our names in.
At the INEC office, two assistant directors, who met the protesters, ap­pealed to them for calm and assured them that their requests would be con­veyed to the leadership of the commission.
At the European Union (EU) office in Abuja, the protesters pleaded with the international organisation to intervene on the alleged INEC’s refusal to give them certificates of return.