Ecobank Manager Sent To Prison Over N14m Fraud

The police at the Ikoyi Division Lagos,
Western Nigeria have arrested the
operational manager of Ecobank of
Nigeria, Ejigbo branch, Akhanenu
Ikechukwu, 41, for allegedly
withdrawing N14,014.157 from the
account of two customers of the bank
without authority
The police also accused him of
sharing the money with his partner
in crime, Nduka Stephen,36.
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
withdrew 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
book and discovered the fraud.
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 when they
will fulfill their bail conditions.