Abstract
The Nigerian banking industry which is the back bone of Nigeria economy is one of the most profitable of higher performance and could achieved better result in output and obligation to the society. To realize this, the banking industry will have to perform lending role that can reinstate the economy. The larger society expects greater accountability, fairness, transparency and effective intermediation from banks, ensuring that they carry out their responsibilities with sincerity of purpose and devoid of fraud which is an important ingredient for gaining public trust and goodwill. The extent to which fraud is prevalent in the banking sector, the nature and causes of bank frauds and proffering possible solutions to the problem is in essence what this research work is all about. Consequently, the study used interview method which is a primary source of data by interviewing the managers, supervisors, employees, customers and regulatory bodies of banks in Nigeria. Based on the methodology
Background of the Study
Fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. Fraud is a crime and a civil law violation. Defrauding people of money is presumably the most common type of fraud. Customers of banks in Nigeria are currently experiencing increase in fraud schemes, Scams to get a customer personal information can occur through many different means such as e-mail and telephone. Bank fraud is the use of deceitful means to obtain money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution.
In its broadest terms, fraud means obtaining of something of value through deception. If fraud were to be described as an industry it would clearly be one of the fastest growing areas of the economy. One hundred criminals who serve several periods of imprisonment for armed robbery offence were recently reported that he wished he had understood earlier in his criminal career how easy it was to commit fraud. He now considers that fraud involves less traumas, the reward are far greater and the penalties substantially fewer than in other form of crime. This study will address those forms of fraud that target the financial service sector and how the industry has responded with some measure successful in controlling this ever increasing problems and other measure that can be geared towards achieving further results.
In many instances, bank fraud is a criminal offence, while the specific element of a particular banking fraud law varies between jurisdictions; the term bank fraud applies to actions that employ a scheme as opposed to bank robbery or theft.
The banking sector in any country plays a fundamental role in increasing the level of economic activity as intermediaries to both suppliers and users of funds, banks are effectively situated in a
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continuum that determines the pulse of the economy. Worldwide, the ability or inability of banks to successfully fulfill their role as intermediaries has been a central issue in some of the financial crisis that has been witnessed so far. Diamond (1984) posits that a special feature of banking activities is to act as delegated monitors of borrowers on behalf of the ultimate lenders (depositors).
In this special relationship with depositors and borrowers, banks need to secure the trust and confidence of their numerous clients. Though this requires safe and sound banking practices, it is not always the case as bank failures in different countries have come to prove. Controlling bank fraud in the financial sector is a major task for all the stake holders in the sector. Every year, banks lose billions of naira to fraud which comes in all size and shapes both from external perpetrators and internal employees.
The rise in fraud in the banking industry has lately become an embarrassment to the nation as apparent in the seeming inability of the law enforcement agents to successfully track down culprits. Whereas the activities of armed robbers is given widespread reviews in the pages of newspapers, especially during major thefts, it is an irony that what they cart away from banks is only a slice of what fraudsters remove from banks tills.
Also the number of insiders (staff) who connive with outsiders to perpetuate the act is alarming. According to an NDIC publication, about 1,914 bank staff of various banks was involved in bank frauds between 1994 and 1996. The report also established that frauds contributed immensely to the failure of most banks in the 1990s, the amount involved representing as much as 32.1% of shareholders funds in 1998 (Udegbunam, 1998). Equally worrisome is the rise in the number of top management staff that have either been indicted or accused of engaging in bank fraud. Against these background, the main purpose of this study is to ascertain the nature and causes of
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bank frauds; as well as proffer solutions that it is hoped, would help reduce the rise in bank frauds in the country.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
As earlier mentioned, the Nigerian banking industry which is the back bone of Nigeria economy is one of the most profitable of higher performance and could achieved better result in output and obligation to the society. To realize this, the banking industry will have to perform lending role that can reinstate the economy. The larger society expects greater accountability, fairness, transparency and effective intermediation from banks, ensuring that they carry out their responsibilities with sincerity of purpose and devoid of fraud which is an important ingredient for gaining public trust and goodwill. The extent to which fraud is prevalent in the banking sector, the nature and causes of bank frauds and proffering possible solutions to the problem is in essence what this research work is all about.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The primary aim of this research work is to ascertain the nature and causes of bank frauds in Nigeria. Thus, the study aims at the following objectives:
i. To examine the causes of fraud perpetrated in Nigerian banking industry.
ii. To examine how effective is the level of efficiency of the banks management and fraud.
iii. To identify the effects of control system such as internal control system and the level of fraudulent activities in banks.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the causes of fraud perpetrated in banks?
2. How effective is the level of efficiency of the banks management and fraud?
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3. How effective are the internal control system of banks in control and management of fraud practices in the Nigerian banking industry?
1.5 Statement of Hypothesis
HO: There is no significant relationship between the level of efficiency of the banks management and fraud
HI: There is a significant relationship between the level of efficiency of the banks management and fraud.
HO: There is no significant relationship between the control system such as internal control and the level of fraudulent activities in the banks.
HI: There is a significant relation between the control system such as internal control and the level of fraudulent activities in the banks.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The impact of bank fraud on the operations of banks in Nigeria and indeed the economy at large is of interest to researchers and industry practitioners. Studies concerning bank frauds in Nigeria have highlighted the contribution of frauds to bank distress (Udegbunam, 1998). Also the study will highlight the causes and the prevention of fraud activities and the findings will be useful for policy making in the banking industry and also provide solution for fraudulent activities. Furthermore, the study will be of valuable benefits and usefulness to all categories of bank managers, financial information users such as existing and potential shareholders, creditors and fund providers and the relevant government agencies. Also, researchers and students in the field of banking and finance who want to know more about frauds, its causes and possible ways of preventing it will also find the study beneficial.
1.7 Scope of the Study
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The scope of this study research will however be limited to only banking industry in Nigeria. These will include banks like First bank plc, Wema bank plc, Sky bank plc, Guarantee trust bank plc, United bank for Africa, Fidelity bank plc, Diamond bank plc, Key stone bank plc, Access bank plc, and Eco bank plc. The study is primarily concerned with fraud control, measurement and management in the Nigerian banking industry with regard to banks of Nigeria.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The following are the constraints faced by the research in the course of carrying out the work.
1. Due to the fact that this research work employs the use of interview in the collection of data, some respondents felt reluctant to proffer confidential answers during personal interrogation sessions.
2. The search for appropriate materials for the research work was not easy facing the circumstance of poor internet network and getting the appropriate books in the library to help in attaining effectiveness of the work.
3. Time constraint is another major problem faced as the researcher has to carry out the work within a short time given by the school for the submission. In spite this, the researcher was still able to carry out the necessary research and got useful date and information.
1.9 Organisation of the Study
The study shall be organized into five chapters. Chapter one gives the introduction to the study. Chapter two shall consider the review of related studies on fraud control and management in banks, as well as the theoretical framework. The literature review examine past work on the study while then theoretical frame work will center on the types of frauds and forgeries, trends of fraud in banking industry, causes of frauds, impact of fraud on banking Business E.T.C
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Chapter three will explain the methodology to be used which include the sources and nature of data used, as well as analytical techniques to be employed. Chapter four will consist of the presentation, analysis of data, and interpretation of result presented. Finally, Chapter five is a summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Fraud: Fraud is an act of or course of deception deliberately practiced to gain unlawful or unfair advantage deception directed to the detriment of another.
Financial Industry: This involves all financial institutions such as banks, insurance company etc.
Bank: Is an establishment saddled with the responsibility of keeping money and valuable safely, and the money being paid out of the customer order.
Internal control: this means methods put in place by a company to ensure the integrity of financial and accounting information, meet operational and profitability targets and transmit management policies throughout the organization.
Control: A policy or procedure that is part of internal control.