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Banker, in-law docked over
N2.5bn fraud
By OLA AGBAJE and FAITH HASSAN
Wednesday, October 14,
2009
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Photo:
Sun News Publishing |
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It was pay back time on Tuesday for a suspected fraudster and his
banker in-law as they were arraigned for N860 million fraud at the
Lagos High Court, Ikeja. Ebi Odeigah and his banker manager brother-in-law,
Alex Nkenchor, were slammed with a 10-count charge of conspiracy,
attempted fraud and stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Odeigah’s company, GMT Securities and Assets Nigeria Limited,
which the prosecution alleged was used as conduit pipe to perpetrate
the alleged crime, was also charged along with its owner and the
brother-in-law.
Specifically, Odeigah was charged with a 10-count charge along with
his company over alleged stealing through banker’s draft issued
to defraud Union Bank to the tune of N860 million last year. The
crime was allegedly perpetrated in connivance with his brother-in-law
who was the manager, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Golden Plaza branch,
Falomo, Lagos State.
The former bank manager got a four-count charge for alleged collaboration
in the crime.
The prosecution alleged that three instalments of banker’s
draft were issued in the sum of N200 million, N210 million and N450
million respectively to fleece Union Bank in July last year by the
accused persons with alleged collaboration of his brother-in-law
who was in charge of the branch.
Beside the alleged defrauding of Union Bank to the tune of N860
million, the prosecution also accused Odeigah of issuing dud cheques
to the tune of N1.7 billion with an intent to defraud the bank.
According to the charge preferred against Odeigah by the EFCC, the
accused allegedly issued six instalments of dud cheque with intent
top defraud Union Bank.
The alleged offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable
under Sections (1) (a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (offences) Act,
Cap. D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; Section 516 of the Criminal
Code Law Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003; and Section
390 (8) (b) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Volume II Laws of Lagos
State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The EFCC prosecutor, Ben Ubi, prayed the court to remand the accused
persons in prison custody while a trial date is fixed by the court.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Morenike Obadina, ordered
the accused persons to be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons and fixed October
20, 2009 to hear their bail applications. She also fixed November
12 and 13, 2009, for the trial of the accused persons.
At the end of the proceedings, there was a mild drama in the court
premises as Odeigah attempted to attack photo journalists who were
trying to take his picture while one of his suspected aides slapped
a reporter. The unidentified aide was promptly arrested by security
operatives in the court who detained him.
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