By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The bail application of a former manager with Ecobank Mr Ifeanyichukwu Azike who is currently remanded in prison, following his arraignment before Justice Ayotunde Faji of a Federal High Court, Lagos Nigeria, over alleged N411 million fraud. will be determined on March 8.
The bank’s ex-manager (Azike) was handed over to the Police by the investigative unit of the bank after the discovery of the fraud perpetuated by him.
He was arraigned last Tuesday before Justice Faji by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, false representation and fraud.
After listening to the charge preferred against him by SFU, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following his plea of not guilty, the police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Apochi urged the court to remand him in prison pending trial.
Consequently, Justice Faji ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison till March 8, 2019 when his bail application would be heard.
In a charge marked, FHC L/56c/2019, the police alleged that between 2016 and 2017, Azike fraudulently obtained N150 million from a customer of Ecobank Nigeria under false pretence of buying him Federal Government Treasury Bill in his bank.
Furthermore, Azike was alleged to have forged the bank customer’s signature, picture and Letter of Instruction 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 were said to be contrary to Sections 1 (1) (a), 15(1)(2) and 15(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.