Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zone on Tuesday, arraigned four suspects before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State over N25.9million fraud.
The suspects, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma and Uwaezuoke Raymond who were former staff of Access Bank, alongside Chidubem Angela Mgbeke were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing money to the tune of N15.9million.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that the suspects committed felony by retaining the sum of N7.9million, money originally meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha.
The anti-graft agency said the suspects were aware or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act.
This offense was said to be contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20 (b) of the same act.
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The suspects pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the EFCC , Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.
Defense counsel, O. O. Orji, however, informed the court of a bail application already placed before it.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter to May 22, 2024 for trial. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of bail application.
Ibekwem, Chidimma and Raymond were handed over to the EFCC on February 22, 2023 by Access Bank plc for pilfering N15.9 million before it was evacuated to the bullion unit of the bank for subsequent movement to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
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