Page 150 - ACCESS BANK ANNUAL REPORTS_eBook

fered any detriment by reason of disclosure made pursuant concerned about the situation.
to the provision of the policy shall be entitled to compensa-
tion and/or reinstatement provided that in the case of com- Where there is no merit in a complaint by a whistleblower, or
pensation, the employee’s entitlement shall be computed it is clear that the person making such claim acted in good
as if he had attained the maximum age of retirement or had faith, the Chief Audit Executive shall ensure that the person
completed the maximum period of service, in accordance suffers no reprisal. However, when a person makes a report
with his condition of service. For other stakeholders, the in bad faith, particularly if it is based knowingly on false or
whistleblower shall be adequately compensated. misleading information, a report of finding should be kept
on the incident without any disciplinary actions against the
whistleblower.
4. Channels and Procedures of Whistleblowing This is without prejudice to the fundamental right of the in-
ternal whistleblower to seek redress in a court of law.
The Bank had provided both internal and external whistle-
blowing channels.

4.1 Internal Whistleblowing Procedure: 4.2 External Whistleblowing Procedure

The internal whistleblowing channels are as follows: The external reporting channel makes use of the KPMG
Ethics Lines and facilities. The KPMG Ethics line facilities are
• Formal letter to the Group Managing Director, telephone lines, fax lines and email address. The telephone
Access Bank Plc or the Head, Internal Audit, lines are open between 8:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m on work days
Access Bank Plc. only. While the fax number and e-mail address are always
available except during periods of maintenance.
• Call or text messaging to dedicated phone
numbers; 01-2712065 or IP 4160 Whether the whistleblower discloses his/her identity,
KPMG will not provide any indication of the whistleblower’s
• Dedicated email address – whistleblower@
accessbankplc.com identity to Access Bank except KPMG has a written consent
from the whistleblower to provide his/her identity to Access
• Via Access Bank’s website – https://www.access Bank.
bankplc.com/Pages/Customer-Support/
Whistle-Blower.aspx Telephone calls generally are recorded and information is
transcribed into a call sheet memo by KPMG for transmis-
The Internal Whistleblowing Hotline shall be available during sion to designated representatives of the Bank. Access
working hours on work days only. However, the email chan- Bank, its officers, staff, representatives or agents shall not
nel will always be available and the information provided by be entitled to have access to such tape recordings, fax
the whistleblower shall be kept confidential. messages or email messages received from whistle blow-
ers. These measures are necessary in order to maintain
Where the concerns are received by a member of staff oth- confidentiality and anonymity of the whistleblowers. Ac-
er than the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Of- cess Bank will only have access to the call sheet memos
ficer, Chief Conduct and Compliance Officer or Chief Audit
Executive, the recipient of such report shall be required to: • Through the KPMG Ethics Line

• Immediately pass the concern to the Chief Audit E-mail: kpmgethicsline@ng.kpmg.com
Executive and Head, Internal Audit Investigation
Access Bank Plc for prompt investigation • Toll free numbers for calls from MTN numbers
only:
• If the concerns affect the Head, Internal Audit
Investigation or Chief Conduct and Compliance 0703-000-0026; 0703-000-0027
Officer, the Group Managing Director • Toll free number for calls from Airtel numbers
is notified. When a director or Board member is only:
involved, such concerns shall be directed to the
Chairman of the Board Audit or Board 0708 060 1222; 0808-822-8888
Risk Management Committee.
• Toll free number for calls from 9MOBILE
numbers only:
0809 993 6366
The concern(s) shall be presented in the following format:

• Background of the concerns (with relevant
dates).
• Reason(s) why the whistleblower is particularly

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Annual Report & Accounts 2017