The management of Ecobank Nigeria has facilitated the arrest
of the operational manager of its Ejigbo branch, Akhanenu Ikechukwu, 41, for
allegedly withdrawing N14,014.157 from the account of two customers of the bank
without authority. The accused was handed over to the Nigerian Police at the
Ikoyi Division Lagos, Western Nigeria.
The police also established that the accused shared the
money with his partner in crime, Nduka Stephen,36.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested
following a complaint by the management of Ecobank.
After investigation by Sergeant Ijatuyi Tope and his team,
the suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on
Monday on a four-count charge of felony to wit fraud, forgery and
stealing.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Igonbo Emby informed the court
in charge No F/34/20/2016 that the accused persons committed the alleged
offence between September and November 2015 during working hours.
Emby told the Court that the first accused used his position
as the operational Manager of EcoBank, Ejigbo branch to fraudulently withdraw
N10m from Account No. 2741128259 belonging to a customer of the bank, Rabiu
Oladimeji Lawal, and N4m from another account with forged documents and
transferred the money into his accomplice’s account from where they allegedly
withdrew the money and shared it.
He said nemesis caught up with the first accused when the
management of Ecobank audited their account books and discovered the fraud. The
bank, he added, called in the police to effect the arrest of the accused.
Emby said the offences are punishable under sections 409,
361(B), 285(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations
and Magistrate P.A. Adekomaiya admitted them to bail in the sum of N3m each
with two sureties each in like sum.
Adekomaiya adjourned the case till 11 July, 2016 for
mention, while the defendants were taken to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending the
perfection of their bail conditions.
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