Saraki urges banks to support fight against corruption



Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki,
has called on commercial banks operating in
the country to partner with the Federal
Government to effectively tackle corruption in
the system.
Saraki who spoke when the management of
Fidelity Bank Plc, led by its Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo,
visited him at the National Assembly, said the
banks are at a vantage position to disclose
suspicious transactions to the relevant
authorities.
The Senate President, according to a
statement by his Media Office in Abuja, stated
that the banks have a major role to play in
stamping out corruption from all aspects of
the economy.
“I think also that the area that is key is the
fight against corruption. The banks must play
a role in knowing your customers, not only in
knowing your customers but also being
accountable for the activities of your
customers because in developed societies,
banks know that if their customers are being
questioned in any activity, they too are
responsible for either not bringing it to the
attention of the government because there is
nothing that happens that does not go
through the banking system.

“So, if the banking system is tight, it will bring
the greatest contribution in fighting corruption
even more than anywhere else because at the
end of the day, it must come through the
banking system.
“But I think when the banks turn a blind eye
saying it is not our business, that does not
help. I think we need to start looking at that in
supporting the government in addressing this area.

He further urged banks to ensure that they
lend needed support to farmers in order to
boost food production and stimulate the
growth of agriculture in the country.
Earlier, Okonkwo thanked the Senate President
for receiving his team despite his busy
schedule, saying that the visit was in line with
the bank’s ongoing engagement with critical
stakeholders in the economy.
He added that Fidelity Bank has been and
would continue to provide support for Small
and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs),
industries and telecommunication sectors in
order to grow the economy.