Reps Give GTB 72 Hours to Submit Documents on Multiple Bank Charges Probe

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating alleged unlawful deductions of taxes and sundry charges from public servants and the general public’s bank accounts has given Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) 72 hours to submit all requested documents to the panel.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu issued the ultimatum on Tuesday in Abuja during a public hearing, expressing displeasure over what he described as the nonchalant attitude of some banks, particularly GTB, towards the investigation.

Nwogu noted that GTB failed to provide the relevant documents demanded by lawmakers, warning that the committee would not tolerate disregard for its mandate.

“This investigation did not just come up arbitrarily. We have petitions and evidence of multiple and questionable deductions from customers’ accounts, especially those of civil servants. Enough is enough,” he said.

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The chairman stressed that banks and other agencies could not continue to deduct funds from customers’ accounts without clear justification or proper use of such funds, adding that the House was determined to protect Nigerians from exploitative practices.

“We will go through every document thoroughly and invite institutions to defend their submissions. This is not about dropping documents and walking away. Those who fail to comply will be dealt with accordingly, regardless of who they know or how influential they are,” Nwogu warned.

A representative of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Eta Who who attended the hearing, said the exercise was dear to her heart, noting that the issue of excessive and unexplained bank deductions had plagued civil servants for years.

She expressed hope that at the end of the investigation, civil servants across the country would “go home smiling.”

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Nwogu also revealed that other relevant agencies, including anti corruption bodies had been invited to participate in the probe due to the complexity and scale of the allegations.

He insisted that all banks and agencies invited must submit every requested document before the next hearing, warning that failure to do so would attract sanctions.

“Reducing money from people’s accounts without any valid reason must stop. Deductions must be done rightly and used judiciously. This House will not take this matter lightly,” the chairman said.

The committee is expected to reconvene Wednesday next week to review submissions and continue the public hearing.