- EFCC quizzes acting MD of Port Harcourt Refinery
Starting from today, Thursday May 1, 2025, the Guaranty Trust Bank will begin deducting the sum of N6 from customers’ accounts for every transaction alert they receive via Short Message Service.
The bank notified its customers of this development via email on Wednesday morning.
“Dear Valued Customer, Please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from N4 to N6 per message. This adjustment is due to a recent increase in telecom rates as communicated by the telecommunication service providers.
“Kindly note that transaction alerts are important and help you keep track and stay in control of activities on your account.
“SMS alerts to international phone numbers are subject to higher charges,” the email read in part.
However, the bank has also offered customers the option to opt out of SMS alerts if they prefer alternative notification methods.
“If you prefer not to receive transaction alerts via SMS, you can update your preferences by completing the transaction alert form on our website and sending it to gtbankmailsupport@gtbank.com”, the message added.
For those seeking additional information or support, the bank urged customers to reach out through its dedicated customer service helplines.
This fee represents a 50% increment on the N4 SMS alert fee deducted by banks before this development.
EFCC quizzes acting MD of Port Harcourt refinery
In a related development, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday stormed the Port Harcourt refinery to quiz the Acting Managing Director, Jelili Ademoye.
This happened barely a few hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited removed the Managing Directors of its three state-owned refineries.
The NNPC on Tuesday night sacked the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Ibrahim Onoja; the Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Dr Mustafa Sugungun; and the Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Efifia Chu.
The shake-up followed questioning by industry experts on the NNPCL operational integrity, particularly regarding transparency and efficiency.
It was gathered that the EFCC officials who arrived at the Port Harcourt Refinery between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm ignored protocol and marched straight to Ademoye’s office before whisking him into a car.
Ademoye is the next officer who automatically took over from the Managing Director.
Sources claimed that the EFCC officials were at the refinery to authenticate the availability of vital documents left by the outgoing Managing Director.
A source at the refinery who spoke in anonymity said, “What we witnessed today was not law enforcement—it was a kidnapping dressed in official garb.
“The EFCC’s commando-style raid reeked of desperation, a cheap power play that could have come straight from a crime thriller. And to think, whispers suggest even their Abuja headquarters may be oblivious to this shameful stunt.
“The tension escalated to a terrifying crescendo as an EFCC official cocked his gun, as if daring the other security outfits to stand down.
“In an instant, the DSS, Army, and others drew their weapons, a chilling standoff that could have erupted into tragedy. One reckless move, and innocent lives—fathers, mothers, sons, daughters—could have been lost to this senseless display of bravado.”