WHISTLE-BLOWING POLICY

Transcription

1 WHISTLE-BLOWING POLICY Citibank Nigeria Limited ISSUE DATE: September 2014 REVISED: July 2017 VERSION: Citigroup Inc.

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Policy Scope Reporting Procedures... 7 Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy

3 1. INTRODUCTION This Citibank Nigeria Limited ( Citi Nigeria ) Whistle-blowing Policy ( Policy ) was developed in accordance with the Central Bank of Nigeria s ( CBN ) Guidelines for Whistle-blowing for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria ( Guidelines ), which require that banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria implement a whistleblowing policy to encourage stakeholders to bring unethical conduct and illegal violations relating to Citibank Nigeria to the attention of the appropriate authority. The Guidelines define whistle-blowing as the reporting of alleged unethical conduct of employees, management, directors and other stakeholders of an institution by an employee or other person to appropriate authorities. A whistle-blower is any person(s) including the employee, management, directors, depositors, service providers, creditors and other stakeholders of an institution who reports any form of unethical behavior or dishonesty to the appropriate authority. This policy will be reviewed as and when there are changes to the Guidelines and at a minimum every three years. Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy Page 3 of 7

4 2. POLICY Citi Nigeria policy is to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and to: 1. Encourage employees, management, directors or other stakeholders who have a good reason to believe that Citi Nigeria or any of its employees, management or directors have acted unethically or violated any law, regulation or policy related to Citi Nigeria activities, to report their concerns. 2. Investigate the alleged violation and take appropriate corrective action(s). 3. Prohibit any retaliatory action against an employee, management, director or other stakeholder for making a good faith report of a suspected unethical behavior, violation of any law, regulation, or Citi Nigeria policy by Citi Nigeria or any of its employees, management or directors or other agents authorized to act on its behalf. 4. Prohibit any retaliatory action against a whistle-blower or employee, management, director or other stakeholder who has provided information in good faith in connection with an internal investigation following a whistle-blowing report. 5. Take appropriate action against individuals who engage in retaliatory conduct prohibited by this Policy. Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy Page 4 of 7

5 3. SCOPE Conduct covered by this Policy may include: 1. All forms of financial malpractice or impropriety or fraud; 2. Failure to comply with a legal obligation or Statute; 3. Actions detrimental to Health & Safety or the environment; 4. Any form of criminal activity; 5. Improper conduct or unethical behavior; 6. Failure to comply with regulatory directives; 7. Other forms of corporate governance breaches; 8. Connected transactions; 9. Insider abuses; 10. Non-disclosure of interest; 11. Attempts to conceal any of these, etc. Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy Page 5 of 7

6 4. REPORTING A whistle-blower shall disclose any information in connection with the activities of Citi Nigeria which indicates any of the following: 1. that an infraction has been committed; 2. that a person has failed to comply with banking laws, internal policies and procedures, etc.; and 3. that someone has concealed matters falling within (1) or (2) above. All contact and investigations are treated confidentially and the identity of the whistle-blower shall be kept confidential, consistent with the need to investigate and address the matter, subject to applicable laws and regulations. Complaints may be made anonymously, however whistle-blowers are encouraged to disclose their name when filing a report so that Citi Nigeria can obtain additional information to address the concern, if needed. Citi prohibits retaliatory action against employees arising as a result of a disclosure made in good faith and if an employee feels that they have been the subject of retaliatory action as a result of a disclosure they should escalate to the Head of Internal Audit and/or the Citi Ethics Office. All reports under this Policy should be made promptly to any of the following: Citi Nigeria Hotline: ; ext Nigeria.whistleblowing@Citi.com The Citi Ethics Hotline remains available to Citi employees and any complaints/concerns related to activities unconnected to Citi Nigeria should continue to be escalated in accordance with the Code of Conduct. The Citi Ethics Hotline: (direct or collect) ethicsconcern@citi.com Fax: Mail: Citi Ethics Office, 1 Court Square, 24th floor, Long Island City. N.Y Website submission: Central Bank of Nigeria ethicsoffice@cbn.gov.ng / anticorruptionunit@cbn.gov.ng Telephone: & Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy Page 6 of 7

7 5. PROCEDURES 1. The Head of Internal Audit of Citi Nigeria will review all reported cases under this Policy and make a recommendation on appropriate action to the Citi Country Officer/Managing Director (CCO). Where the report affects Executive Management, the matter will be referred to the Board. The Board of Directors of Citi Nigeria or CCO will take the necessary action within a reasonable time. 2. If the reported issue relates to the Head of Internal Audit or the Audit function of Citi Nigeria, the Head of Internal Audit will recuse himself and the CCO will designate a person to review the matter and make a recommendation on appropriate action to the CCO or Board of Directors of Citi Nigeria, where the matter affects Executive Management. 3. The Head of Internal Audit shall provide the Chairman of the Citi Nigeria Board Audit Committee with a summary of cases reported and the result of the investigation. Citi Nigeria Whistle-blowing Policy Page 7 of 7