Empirical assessment of frauds on the financial performance of banking sector in Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess how frauds have affected the banking sector financial performance in Nigeria. Data spanning 1993 to 2016 period was used. The method of data analysis was co-integration and error correction mechanism. This method was employed to examine the short and long run relationships between the dependent and independent variables. The method was used after carrying out diagnostic tests. The finding from the estimation revealed that a three period lag of number of fraud cases has negative effect on banking sector financial performance and was statistically significant. One period lag of total amount involved in the fraud and one period lag of actual/ expected loss have negative signs on financial performance of banking sector in Nigeria and were statistically significant. Premised on the empirical finding obtained, the study recommends that banks should strengthen their internal control system in order to reduce fraud to the barest.