See How Former Diamond Bank Manager And Account Officer Defrauded Bank N25m Through A Customer’s Account

  • The two defrauded the bank by opening a customer’s account without the customer’s knowledge to siphon N25m.
  • The court ruled that they return the N25m, pay a fine of N1m, or spend two years in prison.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of former staff of Diamond Bank (now Acces) in Rivers.

Delivering the judgement at the Rivers State High Court Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyami- Lamikanra sentenced a former Manager of the bank, Chinyere Oti and a former Account Officer, Odigboh Okechukwu, to two years imprisonment for defrauding the bank the sum of N25, 018, 467.00k.

EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office arraigned the convicts on November 19, 2009, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

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Count four reads: ” Odigboh Okechukwu and Chinyere Oti on or about the 23rd day of October, 2008 at Diamond Bank Plc Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division did fraudulently steal the sum of Twenty Million Four Hundred And Thirty One Thousand Three Hundred And Forty Two Naira Five Kobo ( N20, 431, 342.05) property of Diamond Bank Plc by means of Diamond Bank Cheque No. 16216303 through an unfunded account in the name of Achufa Investment Limited operated by Odigboh Okechukwu and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 381(1) and punishable under Section 390( 9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999″.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which led to a 10year- long trial. The prosecution called three witnesses and tendered 15 exhibits while the defence called three witnesses.

Justice Iyayi- Lamikanra found the two defendants guilty of the charges and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each or an option of fine of N1,000,000( One Million Naira only) each. She also ordered the convicts to pay a sum of Twenty Five Million Naira( N25, 000,000.00) as restitution to Diamond Access Bank Plc.

It all started with a petition from the bank to the EFCC. The bank alleged that the former Manager, Rumukwrushi Branch, Port Harcourt, fraudulently opened a Current Account for one of its customers. The account was used to make fraudulent withdrawals and overdrew it to the tune of Twenty Five Million Eighteen Thousand and Four Hundred and Sixty Seven Naira( N25, 018, 467).

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After investigations, it was discovered that the alleged customer of the bank never opened an account with the bank; rather, Odigboh Okechukwu, an Account Officer with the bank, used the customer’s photograph to open the account without the customer’s knowledge or consent. It was through the account the two convicts defrauded the bank.

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