CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
    Before going into the subject of this study “banker customer relationship” it is very essential to have an insight into what a banker’s and who really is a customer from the time immoral, it has been a difficult and controversial task to find an acceptable definition of a banker because of the diverse activities carried out by banks. But according to Decree No 12 of 1990 section 16 (1) of the chartered institute of bankers define a banker as “a person who in consideration of remunerations received to be received engage himself in the practice of banking procedures.
    It is also essential to identify what a bank is though there are so many definition of the World Bank. However, we shall try as much as possible to see a few of the definition as proffered by scholars.
    According to 2 (1) of bill of exchange act of 1990 defined a bank as “a body of person whether incorporated or not who carry on the business of banking”.
    While according to Dr. Hebert Hart tries to defined a bank as “a person or company carrying on business of receiving monies and collecting draft for customers receiving monies and collecting draft for customers subject to the obligation of honouring cheque drawn upon them from time to time by customers to the extent of the amount available on their current account.
    Meanwhile, different people visit banks for different reasons, while some people visit banks to cash their personal cheques or issued in this favour, other go to deposit cash or cheques it was however decided in TREAT WESTERN RAILWAY V. COUNTRY BANKING COMPANY LIMITED (1901) that a customer is a person who has “some sort of account either deposit or current of some similar relation with a bank”.
    However, having some sort of account with a bank is not a condition precedent to be a customer.
    Due to the bankers customer relationship, the customer and banks have obligatory rights and duties which they own each other and it shall be briefly discussed primarily the nature of the banker customer relationship is contractual. The nature of the banker – customer relationship being special, generally and essentially contractual can take place in the following forms.
i.    Debtor – creditor relationship
ii.    Principal agent relationship
iii.    Bairlor-Bailee relationship
iv.    Mortagor – mortgagee relationship
v.    Executor – Trustee relationship.
Furthermore, in view of the banker-customer relationship banks peforms and renders service to their customer and their services candidly draw researcher’s attention.
1.2    STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
    The project has been able to provide answer to the following research question.
1.    What is a bank and a banker?
2.    Who is a customer?
3.    In what way can a banker – customer relationship exist?
4.    What are the right and duties of a banker?
5.    What are the right and duties of a customer?
6.    How can the banker-custom relationship be established?
7.    Can the banker-customer relationship be terminated?
1.3    OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
    The following has been the aim and the objectives of the study.
1.    To explain the meaning of a bank and a banker
2.    To highlight who a customer is
3.    To highlight the relationship between the banker-customer
4.    To enumerate the right and duties of a banker
5.    To enumerate the right and duties of a customer
6.    To highlight the implication of banker-customer relationship
7.    To expatiate the termination of banker-customer relationship