Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Financial fraud remains a significant issue within the Nigerian banking system, posing threats to the stability, reputation, and integrity of the financial sector. This research project aims to investigate the detection and control of financial frauds in Nigerian banks, focusing on the problems faced and potential solutions. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to provide a comprehensive analysis. The research will explore the various types of financial fraud prevalent in Nigerian banks, including insider fraud, cyber fraud, loan fraud, and identity theft. By understanding the specific characteristics and mechanisms of these fraud schemes, the study seeks to identify common patterns and vulnerabilities that enable fraudulent activities to occur within the banking system. Additionally, the research will examine the current detection mechanisms and control measures implemented by Nigerian banks to mitigate financial fraud risks. Challenges in detecting and preventing financial frauds in Nigerian banks will be analyzed, including issues related to regulatory oversight, technological limitations, internal control weaknesses, and employee collusion. By identifying these challenges, the study aims to propose effective strategies and interventions to enhance fraud detection and control capabilities within the banking sector. This includes recommendations for improving internal controls, enhancing staff training and awareness programs, leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, and strengthening regulatory frameworks. The research project will also investigate the role of stakeholders, including banking regulators, law enforcement agencies, banking institutions, and customers, in combating financial fraud in Nigeria. By examining the responsibilities and contributions of each stakeholder group, the study aims to develop a holistic approach to fraud prevention and response that involves collaboration and coordination among all parties involved. Overall, this research project seeks to contribute valuable insights and recommendations to enhance the detection and control of financial frauds in the Nigerian banking system. By addressing the key challenges and proposing practical solutions, the study aims to support the efforts of policymakers, regulators, and banking institutions in safeguarding the integrity and stability of the financial sector from fraudulent activities.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There has been no single accepted definition of the term “fraud”. Fraud in whatever form is limitless on classification, this is why courts and writers on fraud try to escape away from giving a decision definition, notwithstanding the varied meaning, attached to the concept of financial fraud the author addressed the subject with the following working definitions.
Oxford and chambers dictionaries define fraud as a criminal deception, act of deceptive, trick, cheating swindling person or thing that deceives.
Longman dictionary define fraud as ‘an act if deceitful behaviour for the purposes of gain which may be punishable by law.
In the mind of civil court of justice, fraud may be said to cover “all act, omissions and concealment which involve a branch of legal or equitable duty trust or confidence justly reposed and injurious to another or by which an undue influence or available ie taken off.
Bronifagbeni define banking fraud to mean an act or cause if deception deliberately practiced to gain unlawful or unfair advantages such deception directed to the detriments of another. The goes further to define fraud to mean depriving a person dishonestly or something which is his or of something to which he or would or mighty but for perpetration in the fraud be entailed.
Having closely studies these approaches to definition to fraud especially from the banking perspective one may correctly see bank financial fraud as a deliberate act by an individual or group within or without the Nigeria banking system to cheat, swindle, deceives or manipulate in other to disposes the banking depressions/share holders of their funds.
Therefore fraud and forgone in banking transactions can be perpetrated through falsification of entire in accounts of customers with a view to take advantage of the excess proceed.
Despite several definitions of frauds, the author believes that the ones so far given are rather appropriate advantages, and inspiring for the purpose in which the research work intends to achieve. This is because they contain the basic elements of fraud which include that:
(a) There must be decent or deception directed to the detriment of another or entirety
(b) A false representation has been made knowingly or without belief in its truth or recklessly, carelessly, whether it is true or false.
(c) Obtain damages for deceit, it must be proved that the defendant intended that the plantiff should act on it and suffered damages in consequences.
The position of banking system in our economy cannot be over emphasized. They act as the conduct pipe through which all the financial transactions pass. However, fraud has proved a serious bottleneck to the proper functioning of the roles of banking system to the Nigeria economy people are befinning to get worries and sooners than later may loose confidence in our banking sector due to mainly the very increasing incidence of fraud in our today’s bank Banks as the store house of the public funds and properties should be on trust not fraud.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The frequent cases of financial fraud in many financial institutions in our country is now taken as the utmost concern to financial experts and micro economists. This has also limited that task of seeking solution to eliminate its occurrences. To some banking experts the issue of fraud in an internal vice in the Nigeria banking system. They argue on this because of good number of frauds occur among our banks without the knowledge of outsider even where the public is aware it does not effect the rate at which customers withdraw or deposit money.
These experts are inclined to believe this because the nation is under-banked, the populace are at no option but to use the available banks like especially the foremost and well established banks like Zenith Bank Plc even if there are glaring inefficiencies in the operations incompetence and laziness among most banks staff give birth to fraud.
Fraud has paralyzed the roof, the foundation and creditability of our banking system, just pick up any national daily or from police record and you will be alarmed at the extent and magnitude of bank fraud in Nigeria banking system. Many banks have gone on distressed. Therefore the researcher is arming at finding out if there is any significant effect or solution to financial fraud in the Nigeria banking system which has to offer to these deficiencies aforementioned with special references with Zenith Bank Plc station road, Enugu.
In summary, the major problems of this study are as follows
(a) The incessant/consistent casa of financial fraud
(b) Weakness this has attributed to banking industry prior to the introduction of effective control of financial fraud
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
This research work is generally set towards ascertaining the effects finical fraud have had on Nigeria banking industry since its inception in the Nigeria industry furthermore, the study is
1) To determine if any lost of bills, the banking have in relationship with the financial fraud in banking and to what extend
2) To examine the facts contained in the detection and control of financial fraud issued
3) To research into the reason why people involve in financial fraud
4) To diagnose the banking procedures with a view to fishing out loopholes and suggested way of plugging them.
5) To examine the various management and government controlling devices geared towards alimentation or checking financial fraud in our banking system
6) To recommend solutions that may help in checking financial fraud in our banking system.
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
To fulfill the above outline purpose, the research declares the following prepositions
Ho: Hypothesis II most financial frauds have not succeeded because of the complexity of banking activities
H1: Most financial frauds have succeeded because of the complexity of banking activities
Ho: Hypothesis II auditing and investigations are indispensable weapons in the efficient management it banking industry
H2: Auditing and investigations and indispensable of banking in the efficient management of the banking system.
H1: Hypothesis I commercial banks do not place any value on the auditors reports.