Business

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on Monday urged judges of the Federal High Court to be `hard on Bank fraudsters', so as to restore depositors' confidence.

Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, the Managing Director of the Corporation, made the call at a sensitisation seminar on ``The Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice’’, for judges.

Ibrahim said that the judges' understanding was needed to abate the fraud in the banking system.

He said that deliberate efforts should be geared towards quick dispensation of all pending liquidation-related cases.

Ibrahim said the corporation was faced with difficulties in the execution of court judgments.

He said the corporation had a vulnerable funding base, as well as difficulties in recovering debt owed to failed banks by debtors.

According to Ibrahim, most of the problems stem from poor public awareness and inadequate legal framework.

``The Nigerian judiciary, legal practitioners and other esteemed stakeholders have important roles to play in ensuring that the mandate of the Corporation is realised.

``As our partners and stakeholders, I urge you to use your good offices and privileged positions to ensure that the corporation is empowered to safeguard the Nigeria banking system.

In his opening address, Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, said the seminar was necessary to keep judges abreast with the operations of the NDIC, and the sustenance of the country’s economy.

``Acquiring such technical capacity will certainly enable us to make efficient, effective and informed decisions based on law for the interest of the nation’s economy,’’ Auta said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over NDIC cases, handles the prosecution of directors and officers of banks suspected of banking malpractices.

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened on Monday for the week on a positive note with the All-Share Index appreciating marginally by 0.13 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the index improved by 41.25 points to close at 32,890.36 against the 32,849.11 achieved on Friday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N10.51 trillion, grew by N12 billion to close at N10.52 trillion.

NAN reports that Total recorded the highest price gain of N6.69 to close at N154.80 per share.

Nestle trailed with a gain of N5 to close at N841 while NewGold gained N3 to close at N2,428 per unit.

On the other hand, GlaxoSmithkline led the losers' chart, losing N1.01 to close at N48.99 per share.

It was followed by Nigerian Breweries with a loss of 50k to close at N162 per share.

Portland Paint lost 26k to close at N5.09, while Studio Press dropped 13k to close at N2.52 per share.

The volume of shares traded increased by 62.34 per cent as a total of 700.21 million shares worth N2.68 billion exchanged by investors in 5,725 deals.

This was against the 431.59 million shares valued N5.33 billion traded in 5,587 deals on Friday.

Unity Bank drove the volume, accounting for 418.48 million shares worth N323.47 million.

 FTN Cocoa came second with 41.31 million shares valued N23.02 million, while Studio Press accounted for 22.60 million shares worth N56.96 million.  

The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped by N106 billion last week to close at N10.51 trillion against the N10.62 trillion posted in the preceding week.

According to statistics made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, the All-Share Index also lost 334.09 points or 1.01 per cent to close at 32,849.11.

This was against the 33,183.20 posted the previous week.

In the week under review, Nestle topped the losers' table with N50 to close at N836 per share.

It was followed by Guinness which lost N11.50 to close at N265, while Dangote Cement lost N5.49 to close at N142.50 per share.

Conversely, UACN led the gainers' chart with N4.10 to close at N54.10 kobo per share.

Oando came second with N2.96 to close at N17.94 per share, while Unilever gained N2.14 to close at N19.76 per share.

Similarly, the volume of shares traded declined by 1.93 billion shares worth N20.99 billion.

This was against the 2.28 billion shares valued at N24.63 billion traded in 28,170 deals in the corresponding week.

The Financial Services sector was investors' delight as it accounted for 1.51 billion shares worth N13.53 billion in 17,688 deals.

Capital market operators told NAN that the lull in the capital market last week was due to the poor dividend declared by Nestle and Nigerian Breweries for their 2012 financial year.

Mr David Adonri, the Chief Executive Officer, Lambeth Trust & Investment Company Ltd., said that most investors were disappointed by the dividends declared by Nestle and Nigerian Breweries.

Adonri also attributed the market downturn to over valuation of some stocks due to prolonged bullish trend.

 "Due to the prolonged bull run, several stocks became over valued and market correction set in when speculators started taking profit, thus inundating the market with excessive supply of stocks.

Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the immediate past President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, said that the market was expecting 2012 results of companies that could propel activities.

Yussuf said that the market was expecting financial results, particularly from the banking sector that could meet investors’ expectations in terms of dividends.

He, however, urged investors to take advantage of the current low price of equities to increase their stakes in the market.

Another stockbroker, Mr Emma Ndu, called for macroeconomic policies and decisive interventions by market makers to ensure stability in the market.

Ndu said that the Federal Government should speed up its privatisation process, implement its 2013 budget effectively and pass the Petroleum Industry Bill to increase liquidity in the market.

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First Bank customers using the Automated Teller Machines for cash withdrawals are to pay N100 monthly, with effect from this month, according to a notice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Abuja on Monday that the notice for the new charge captioned, ``Card Maintenance Fee,” was displayed on some ATM machines in the city.

The notice reads: ``Dear valued customer, in order to serve you better, from March 2013, a monthly N100 card maintenance fee will be charged for all cash withdrawals within the month.’’

Some customers who spoke with NAN, however, condemned the introduction and called for sanctions from the regulatory body.

Mr Joshua Abraham, a trader, said it was unfortunate that First Bank should introduce such a charge.

``I did not even notice, but if that is the case, they want to discourage us.

Mrs Uju  Nwanze, a legal practitioner, said the CBN should stop the charge.

`` This is another way to get back the N100 charges they just stopped recently on use of ATM cards.

``These banks are good at exploiting people, they did not even give prior notice like sending text messages.''

Also, Ejiro Fidel, a civil servant, said First Bank should not copy the new generation banks to rip off customers.

``They did not even care to inform their customers about this development, this is unlike them. Civil servants use First Bank a lot because we believe they are better than most of these new banks.

``What maintenance are they doing on the card, this is very wrong and I hope that those in charge would stop them from doing so.

``I think that they should focus on how to encourage customers to use the card than discouraging them. This new charge is really anti-customer friendly,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the Bankers' Committee meeting of November 2012, scrapped the N100 interbank charge on use of ATM cards.

NAN also reports that First Bank had on February 11, increased its charges on interbank money transfer, against moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria for a downward review of bank charges on customers. (NAN)