Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday ordered the remand of Ifeanyi Chukwu Azike, a manager with the Ecobank Plc, for allegedly defrauded the bank’s customers to the tune of N411 million.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Ayotunde Faji, by the men of Zone 2, of Nigeria Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, on a three count-charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, false representation and fraud.
The police in the charge marked FHC/L/56c/2019, alleged that the Ecobank manager between in 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.
He was also alleged to 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.
The police also alleged that the bank manager without the consent of the bank, fraudulently converted the sum of N411 million belonging to the bank to his personal use.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Daniel Apochi, are 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 offence is also contrary to and punishable under section 1(2)(2) of the miscellaneous Act. Cap. M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor urges the court to remand him prison custody pending trial.
Justice Faji ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, while adjourned till March 8, for trial.