Onitsha — A retired senior police officer, Mr Elaigwu Agbogo, has dragged First Bank Plc to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged ATM fraud in his account with the bank.

Speaking yesterday to Vanguard, Agbogo said his action followed the complacency exhibited by the bank, after he made several reports on the matter to the management of the bank.

In a letter to the chairman of EFCC, made available to Vanguard, Agbogo said through his counsel, that about N741,900 was fraudulently withdrawn from his account through the ATM of the bank.

"Our client informed us that from the statement of account issued to him by the First Bank Enugu Main branch, seven withdrawals were made from his account on September 30, 2009, seven withdrawals on October 1, 2009 and another withdrawal on October 2, 2009. The total amount fraudulently withdrawn from his account was N741,900", the petition said.

"Our client told us that he discovered the massive fraud on his account perpetrated with his own ATM card and that the withdrawal he made from his said account before he discovered the fraud was N40,000 leaving a total balance of N1,057, 821â-'.

Agbogo meanwhile appealed to the EFCC to immediately intervene in the matter and order a full scale unbiased investigation into his several complaints, hoping that the anti-graft body will get to the root of the matter and bring the culprits to book.

"We are therefore counting on your prompt and thorough investigation into this scam and possible prosecution of the offenders to serve as a deterrent to others."

The bank has, meanwhile said it could not be held accountable for the fraud.

In a letter dated November 18, 2009 from the Internal Auditor to the Manager of the Enugu Main branch, Mr C. O. Akindipe, the bank disputed the withdrawals, explaining that the bank's policy on ATM card is that the card holder shall be liable for all the losses arising from the use of the card by any person in possession of it with consent or due to negligence.