The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, March 12, arraigned three former staff of Access Bank, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma and Uwaezuoke Raymond and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke, for conspiring and stealing N15.9 million from the bank.
In a statement, the EFCC said its Enugu Zonal Command arraigned the defendants before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State.
“Ibekwem, Chidimma and Raymond were handed over to the EFCC on February 22, 2023, by Access Bank Plc for pilfering N15, 944, 100.00 before it was evacuated to the bullion unit of the bank for subsequent movement to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“They were former staff of the Nottidge branch of the bank in Onitsha, Anambra State,” the statement read in part.
The anti-graft commission said the defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N15,944,100.00.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; retaining the sum of N7, 996, 800. 00 ( Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha which you knew or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20 (b)”.
They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them.
In view of their pleas, 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.
Defence 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.