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.
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.
