Abdul Razaq Ibrahim, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA – Following the latest discoveries on the alleged N200 million loan granted to 120 secondary school teachers in Ogun State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may sweep on some officials of First Bank Plc in Abeokuta, the state capital, saying the information provided by the officials was contradictory.
It will be recalled that 120 teachers, mostly from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the State were reportedly interrogated by the anti-graft agency to explain their involvement in the alleged scandal, but a source who was privy to the session in Lagos, told Sundiata Post that the teachers did not, at any point in time, obtain the said loan from the bank.
The source said that the passport photographs provided by the bank did not correspond with the faces of the teachers and all the addresses provided did not also correspond with the addresses of the teachers.
He said that the EFCC officials later discovered that almost all of the 20 teachers out of 120 teachers earlier reported to have appeared before EFCC actually did appear in Lagos on Monday but, the EFCC later discovered that none of them operate account with the bank and that the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) does not have a hand in the matter.
He said, “The first batch of the 120 secondary school teachers alleged to have obtained a N200 million loan from First Bank have been vindicated. Their names were dropped randomly by the bank officials. The passport photographs on the forms filled in obtaining the loan does not tally with their faces and also the addresses provided were totally different.
“It was also discovered that nearly all the teachers do not operate any form of accounts with the bank. The appearance of the remaining 100 teachers is just a formality and it was also clear that TESCOM knew nothing about it and it equally does not have any account with First Bank.
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“The teachers were treated well by the EFCC. There was no intimidation or harassment. The first set came back rejoicing. The anti-graft agency is now beaming its searchlight on some officials of the bank.”
Meanwhile, Sundiata Post reports that another batch of 20 teachers were guests of EFCC on Tuesday bringing the total number of those investigated to 40 teachers, whom were alleged to have involved in the scam.
