BANK FRAUD AND ITS EFFECTS ON NIGERIAN’S ECONOMY

Cases of frauds and foreign in banks have not only become incessant but have also been on the increase in recent years. Although frauds and foreign in banks are global phenomena, their growth in Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporations (NDIC) annual report, for instance, presents a disturbing picture of rising trends of fraud in banks from N360.2 million in 1992 to N351.9 million in 1991. The amount unloved in frauds in commercial banks alone rose to N1, 377.15 million in 1993, whereas the actual expected loss rose from N64.8 million to N241.0 million. Fraud, in banks, is clearly unacceptable something’s drastic ought to be done to gently stem the tide in view of its image implications for the banking industry and the adverse effects it will have on the economy. The study emerges in response to this development. In carrying out this research work, questionnaires were distributed to the respondents for their reactions. Equally oral interviews were also carried out and some texts written by eminent scholars were consulted. The researcher believed all these would give enough information for a sound report. This study, therefore, seeks to identify the causes and effects of book fraud. After analyzing the returned 25 questionnaires distributed to the staff of Afribank Nigeria PLC Enugu, the following findings were made: 1. No internal control system is 100% errors proof but the internal control system of banks can be designed to make the perpetration of fraud difficult. 2. Non-periodic review of work by bank management gives loophole and the tendency to commit fraud in the industry. 3. The law enforcement agencies of the countries fail to deal seriously with the bank fraudsters apprehended and handed over to them. Based on these, the following recommendation was made: 1. The use of closed circuit television surveillance should be commencing in all banks. 2. The bank should ensure that computer operator’s passwords are kept in safe hands when there is movement of Alfred staff.