EFCC Arraigns 1st bank staff for N2.1m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 25, 2014 arraigned one Kanu Jacob Okoro before Justice S.M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State on a 5-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.
Okoro, a staff of First Bank Nigeria Plc is alleged to have fraudulently collected the sum of N2.1 million from Ifeanyi Dike, whom he convinced to invest in his business with a promise of good return on maturity. However, on maturity of the investment, Okoro became evasive and efforts by the complainant to get his money and interest were unsuccessful.
One of the counts in the charge reads: “That you Kanu Jacob Okoro on or about January 2012 and March 2012, in Imo State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of two million one hundred thousand naira (N2,100,000.00) from Ifeanyi Dike through First Bank Account No.6683020000046 when you falsely represented to him that the above amount will be invested in business with a commitment to pay him interest, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related offences Act 2006”.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The prosecution counsel, Kenechukwu Chukwuma Eneh, in view of the accused person’s plea asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the accused person in prison custody.
The case was adjourned to March 5, 2014 for hearing on the bail application while the accused is to remain in prison custody.