Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday December 10, 2015 arraigned one Nnaji Ikechukwu, before Justice D.V Agishir of the Federal High Court Enugu, on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy, uttering and forgery.
Ikechukwu allegedly opened a bank account in First City Monument Bank with a false name 'Anthony Smith,' with intent to facilitate the fraudulent transfer of $9,500 (nine thousand five hundred US Dollars) into the said account. This action contravenes and is punishable under the provisions of Section 1(2) (a) and (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of Federation 2004.
One of the charges reads, “That you Nnaji Ikechukwu, sometime in January 2015 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did procure one Nwamba Humphrey to forge a National Drivers Licence to open an account with FCMB, Garden Avenue, Enugu and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(2) (a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Act”.
The accused however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him and was granted bail in the sum of N1, 000,000 (one million naira).
The matter was adjourned to March 16, 2016 for commencement of trial.
In a related development, the Commission on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 arraigned one Seyi Ladejobi Chinyere a staff of one of the first generation banks before Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan for failure to exercise due diligence in line with Know Your Customer regulation, before opening account for some customers of the bank.
The offence is contrary to Section 3(1) (a) (i) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, mandating financial institutions to fully verify the identities of the intending customers before opening account for them.
The accused was arrested following a petition by one Patrick Agie who was allegedly defrauded to the tune of N800,000 by one John Adam(still at large), a purported CBN staff, who operates multiple accounts which Ladejobi manages.
One of the counts reads, “That you United Bank for Africa Plc, a financial institution and Ladejobi Seyi Chinyere, an employee of United Bank for Africa Plc, on 18th day of June, 2013, at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to verify the identity of one John Adams before opening Account No. 2063557855 for him and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 3(1) (a) (i) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under section 16(1) (c) and 16(1) (c) and 16 (2) (a) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the 2 counts brought against her and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in like sum.
The case has however been adjourned to 16th of February 2016.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
10th December, 2015
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