LAGOS: Nigerian authorities arrested on Wednesday two-dozen people wanted over massive debts owed to troubled banks in a scandal that has rocked the country's financial industry.

The country's anti-graft agency had given the debtors, who included some of the country's most prominent tycoons, until Tuesday to repay their debts.

"Up to 24 bank debtors or defaulters have been brought into our premises. They are under arrest and they will undergo interrogation," said Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"They are likely to be charged to court this week," Babafemi told media, refusing to disclose the identities of those arrested.

"The figure may be more than that at the end of today as all the five teams that went out to pick up these defaulters were yet to return", added Babafemi.

He confirmed that one of the two bank chiefs wanted by the EFCC gave herself up Wednesday after the one-week ultimatum expired. LINK