Bank, students trade blame over N26m Registration Scam

The Students Representative Council of Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria has alleged that the First Bank of Nigeria, Zaria main branch, is responsible for the

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However, the bank's management has dismissed the accusations adding that it has no case to answer.

The bank has however dismissed the allegation as spurious, saying that it had no case to answer.

Earlier reports revealed that 1,128 students of the college were affected by the registration scam.

Describing the occurrence as disheartening, the Chairman of the students’ council, Mr Nathan Zakka, has appealed for a thorough investigation to trace the missing money.

Zakka also pleaded with the students, asking for patience and cooperation as the union is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the registration fees is recovered from the bank.

“We have briefed the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Abuja and they are equally making arrangement to address the matter.

“We have also arranged with the college management through bursary department to help us verify all payments made through First Bank.

“This is because they are the operator of TSA who only has access to the remita code for verification and as soon as the exercise is done, we will ensure that your money is recovered,” he said.

Zakka said that the affected students have proof of payment in the form of duly certified stamped tellers and numbers.

Mr Babatunde Lasaki, Head, Corporate Affairs, First Bank, has, however, debunked the allegations in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), blaming the affected students for the loss.

“From the initial report sent to us after an investigation, it actually shows that there are thousands of students who paid their registration fees in the branch,” he said.

Lasaki went on to explain that the problem was only detected after the students went to the college for validation.

“It was in the process of this validation they got to know that some of the students did not duly register.

“These affected students did not pay their money in the bank, they actually paid their money in cyber cafes, not in our branch.

“We understand that some of these cyber cafés encourage students to come and do all the registration with them instead of going to the bank, so in this situation, the bank has no case with the affected students,” he concluded.

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According to Lasaki, the case has been reported to the police and hopes that the case would be thoroughly investigated and the culprit made to face justice.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command through its spokesperson, ASP Aliyu Usman has confirmed the case and assured that investigation is underway.