The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it is not compulsory for Nigerians to have bank accounts amid the rising spate of bank frauds and insider crimes in the banking sector.

The EFCC also kicked against the idea of opening bank accounts with “mere phone numbers,” arguing that nearly 40 per cent of Americans do not have accounts.

“Nearly 40 per cent of Americans do not have accounts. So, it is not very compulsory for everybody in Nigeria to have a bank account,” said Bawa Usman, zonal head of the EFCC in Sokoto.

According to him, insiders facilitate most financial frauds in the banking industry. Mr Usman, whose zone covers Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, stated this on Tuesday in Sokoto at a roundtable with compliance officers of commercial banks.

The EFCC convened the meeting to strengthen the relationship and collaborations between the EFCC and the banks in tackling frauds.

Mr Usman further said the banks often frustrated the EFCC’s investigations as they delayed replying to its letters.

“Such delays jeopardise our investigation. Financial institutions must collaborate with us toward curtailing money laundering, illegal financing, and other illicit flows of money.

“The meeting is a response to the directive of the EFCC leadership. It is one of numerous strategies toward fighting all manners of corruption.

“The commission strives to ensure that fraudsters do not get away with proceeds of crimes undetected. To achieve this, we are appealing to all banks to facilitate a better working relationship with the anti-graft agency,” he explained.

He urged bankers to improve ways of tracking illicit finances and transactions, stressing that point of service operators or money agents needed to be well-informed on financial regulations.

Mr Usman told the banks to ensure that eligible customers obtain Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) numbers, stressing the need to review their data registers to ensure compliance.

(NAN)