In May 2009, Mrs. Ekwunife L. Akabogu signed as a contract emp
loyee at the Enugu branch of Skye Bank Plc (the bank), based in Lagos, Nigeria. For the salary of N45, 000, Akabogu joined the Bank under the title of Priority Sales Support Officer and was posted to the Enugu branch for a period of six months, at which point her employment would be up for review.This new position signified the realization of a longtime desire for Akabogu—to work in a corporate atmosphere. She applied for the position following ample suggestion from various parties that she possessed the skills and attributes suitable for the banking industry. It did not take Akabogu long however to realize the ulterior motives behind the flattery Once Akabogu had agreed to the contract, the Branch Manager asked if she was familiar with Chief Christian Uba of the PDP, a client whom the Bank had been unsuccessfully wooing for some time. Upon admitting her acquaintance with Chief Uba, the Manager suggested tha
t in order to prove her dedication to her new employer, Akabogu pursue Chief Uba on the Bank’s behalf. The Manager made clear that he did not wish to know the details of what would transpire however, yet assured Akabogu that Uba would be interested in a quid pro quo agreement and that the end would certainly justify the means.She told her husband, who suggested that she ignore the request. Once the Bank recognized that she was unwilling to partake in the scheme, they corralled her involvement in the Bank’s activity to only fixed deposits and certain priority accounts, which she sees as bogus free Priority Passes for lounge access that the Bank uses to pilfer money from clients through hidden charges (interest, ATM and guest fees, lounge beverages), which
the Bank officers are prohibited from warning the patrons about. More common practice (as is practiced at Barclay’s) is to have an upfront fee for the Priority Pass and then offer services and amenities within the Pass free of charge.
loyee at the Enugu branch of Skye Bank Plc (the bank), based in Lagos, Nigeria. For the salary of N45, 000, Akabogu joined the Bank under the title of Priority Sales Support Officer and was posted to the Enugu branch for a period of six months, at which point her employment would be up for review.This new position signified the realization of a longtime desire for Akabogu—to work in a corporate atmosphere. She applied for the position following ample suggestion from various parties that she possessed the skills and attributes suitable for the banking industry. It did not take Akabogu long however to realize the ulterior motives behind the flattery Once Akabogu had agreed to the contract, the Branch Manager asked if she was familiar with Chief Christian Uba of the PDP, a client whom the Bank had been unsuccessfully wooing for some time. Upon admitting her acquaintance with Chief Uba, the Manager suggested tha
t in order to prove her dedication to her new employer, Akabogu pursue Chief Uba on the Bank’s behalf. The Manager made clear that he did not wish to know the details of what would transpire however, yet assured Akabogu that Uba would be interested in a quid pro quo agreement and that the end would certainly justify the means.She told her husband, who suggested that she ignore the request. Once the Bank recognized that she was unwilling to partake in the scheme, they corralled her involvement in the Bank’s activity to only fixed deposits and certain priority accounts, which she sees as bogus free Priority Passes for lounge access that the Bank uses to pilfer money from clients through hidden charges (interest, ATM and guest fees, lounge beverages), which
the Bank officers are prohibited from warning the patrons about. More common practice (as is practiced at Barclay’s) is to have an upfront fee for the Priority Pass and then offer services and amenities within the Pass free of charge. 
