Alleged N411m Fraud: How ECOBANK Manager Allegedly Defrauded Customers, Police Reveals

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A manager with the Ecobank Plc, Ifeanyi Chukwu Azike, was on Tuesday (today) ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons for allegedly defrauding the customers of the bank to the tune of N411 million.
The order was issued by Justice Ayotunde Faji of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Azike, who is facing a three counts-charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense, false representation and fraud, was dragged before the judge by the men of Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
According to the charge designated FHC/L/56c/2019, the Police alleged that the  Ecobank manager between 2016 and 2017, fraudulently obtained the sum of about N150 million from one Mr. Okafor Ikenna Kelvin a customer with Account number 0533010936, under the false pretence of buying him Federal Government Treasury Bill in his Bank.
The defendant was equally alleged to have forged the bank customer’s Signature, Picture, Letter of Instruction to which he used in opening another parallel account as Ikenna Okafor Kelvin with account number: 5333063028.
It was also the contention of the Police that Azike, without the consent of the bank, fraudulently converted the sum of N411 million belonging to the bank to his personal use.
According to the prosecutor, Daniel Apochi, the offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a), 15(1)(2) and 15(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud related Offence Act No. 14 of 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The prosecutor equally insisted that the offence is contrary to and punishable under section 1(2)(2) of the miscellaneous Act. Cap. M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Azike however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
While ordering the remand of the troubled bank manager, Justice Faji adjourned the case until March 8, 2019 for trial.
Hearing on Azike’s bail application has also been fixed for the same date.
The charge initiated against Azike goes thus:

 “That you lfeanyi Chukwu Azike ’M’ sometime in 2016 and 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Federal High Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of about N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) from Mr Okafor Ikenna Kelvin a customer of Ecobank Plc with Account No:533010936 your employer, by falsely representing to him that you going to purchase Federal Government Treasury Bill in Eco Bank Nigeria Plc for him as Bank Manager, which representation you knew to be false or did not believed to be true and by this conducts, you thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud related Offence Act No. 14 6V2006 but punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

“That you Ifeanyi Chukwu Azike ’M’ in sometime between 2016 and 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Federal High Court did forge Signature, Picture, Letter of Instruction to opened another parallel account as Ikenna Okafor Kelvin Account Number: 5333063028, knowing it to be false or with intent that it may in anyway be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere to the prejudice of Ikenna Okafor Kelvin and Ecobank Plc your employer, you thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 1 (2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended).

“That you Ifeanyi Chukwu Azike ’M’ on or about 2016 and 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did fraudulent convert to your use the sum of N411,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Eleven Million Naira) being money fraudulently withdraw from your employer bank without their consent, and customer of your bank, Ecobank Plc for enabling you invest on behalf of the Customer, which you failed to deliver with aim of converting the illicit origin of the resources and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 15 (1) 2) and 15 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”

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