Ecobank turns in former manager over alleged fraud

The management of Ecobank Nigeria has handed over Ifeanyi Chukwu Azike, a former manager in the bank, on allegations of defrauding customers.

Azike, who was arraigned Ayotunde Faji, a justice of the federal high court in Ikoyi on Tuesday was alleged to have defrauded customers to the tune of N411 million.

Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Daniel Apochi, the police prosecutor, urged the court to remand him in prison pending trial.

The presiding judge then ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison till March 8 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 the false pretence of buying him federal government treasury bill in his bank.

Azike was also 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 Offence Act No. 14 of 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.