How bank manager, accomplice ‘diverted customers’ N14m’

A former manager of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Ejigbo branch, Ikechukwu Aghanenu on Wednesday was arrested by the police for allegedly conspiring with a suspected fraudster, Anthony Okpala, to defraud two customers of the bank of N14m.

The suspects reportedly diverted N4.014m from the account of deceased, Oluremi Egunjobi and N10m withdrawn from UK-Based Rabiu Lawal’s account.

It was learnt that 34-year-old Okpala and one other suspect at large, had presented themselves to Aghanenu as the relatives of the deceased with some forged documents authorizing the bank to release the sum.

Okpala also allegedly plotted with Aghanenu to withdraw N10m from Rabiu Lawal’s account in batches while parading himself as the victim’s business partner.

According to a police source, the fraud was detected after a lawyer to the deceased’s relatives and Lawal respectively lodged complaints to the bank.

The source said, “The bank reported the fraud to the police and in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the fraudulent transactions were carried out by Okpala with the knowledge of the ex-manager and others at large.

“Okpala presented himself and another suspect at the Ecobank’s branch in Ejigbo as relatives of the late Oluremi (Egunjobi) and instructed the bank to liquidate her account, which was done through the help of the ex-manager. But he (Aghanenu) denied knowing Okpala.

“The other victim, Lawal, works in UK and saves money at the bank with the hope of using the money to invest when he relocates to Nigeria. It was when he checked his account balance that he discovered the withdrawals and complained to the bank.”

Both suspects were arranged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on Thursday on five counts bordering on fraud and forgery, which they pleaded not guilty to.

The prosecutor, Friday Mameh said the offences contravened sections 287, 361, 409 and 378 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The counts read in part, “That you, Ikechukwu Aghanenu, Anthony Okpala and others now at large, between September 2015 and November 2015, at the Ecobank Nigeria Plc, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: forgery and stealing.

“That you did forge the instruction of one Oluremi Egunjobi, a deceased and an account holder of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, fraudulently liquidated the customer’s investment in account number 5323007058 of the sum of N4.014m property of Ecobank Nigeria Plc.

“That you, and others at large, did fraudulently convert the sum of N10m in tranches from Ecobank account number 2741128259 belonging to Rabiu Lawal to account number 53220002455 with the name Okeneme Samuel.”

 

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