On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, charged three former Access Bank workers and one other for allegedly stealing N15, 944,100.
Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke are suspected of stealing the money before it was evacuated to the bank’s bullion section and then transferred to the Central Bank.
According to the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the suspects were turned over to the anti-graft agency on Tuesday by the Nottidge branch of the bank in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The suspects, who appeared before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of Enugu State’s Federal High Court, were charged with conspiracy and stealing on four counts.
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, asked the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded at Enugu State correctional facility.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter until May 22, 2024 for trial. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail application.