The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secure a conviction against a former Branch Manager of the Sterling Bank Plc, Market Road, Enugu, Anidiobi Chukwuka over N219m fraud.
Anidiobi Chukwuka was arraigned by the Commission before Enugu State High Court for stealing and converting to personal use the sum of N219m belonging to customers of Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited, Enugu, kept in a fixed deposit account with Sterling Bank Plc, its corresponding bank.
According to the microfinance bank lawyer, Mr. Olu Omotayo, Chukwuka committed the offence between August 15, 2014 and November 16, 2017.
Omotayo disclosed that his client first reported the case to the EFCC in a petition in January 2018, adding that the Enugu zonal office of the agency investigated the case.
Read Also: EFCC Arraigns Former Unity Bank Manager Victor Udoh Over Fraud
“The case was further referred for thorough investigation by the chairman of the commission based on a further petition we wrote on behalf of our client, dated July 4, 2018.
“Sequel to the outcome of further investigations, EFCC, through its prosecuting counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Michael Ani, filed a 32 count charge of stealing by conversion, obtaining by false pretences and forgery against the convict”.
During his arraignment on May 7, 2019, before Justice Cyprian Ajah, he pleaded not guilty to all the 32 counts charges levelled against him.
The accused was represented during the trial by Chief O.A.U. Onyema, while Olu Omotayo held watching brief for the nominal complainant, Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited, throughout the trial.
You May Also Like: Zenith Bank in Alleged Messy N6.5billion Fraud
Delivering judgement, Justice Cyprian Ajah, sentence Anidiobi Chukwuka to eight years’ imprisonment for stealing and fraud.
The judge sentenced him to four years imprisonment each for counts 1 to 14.
He was further sentenced to four years each for counts 15 to 28 which border on obtaining by false pretences, while he was sentenced to eight years for counts 29 to 32, which border on forgery. The sentences are to run concurrently.
