Regional Bank Manager Docked Over N43.7m Fraud

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

The regional manager of a new generation bank at Kaduna Road Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Mr. Ige Adegboye, 43, has been arrested by the operatives at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, for fraudulently withdrawing N43.7m from his employer’s account without authorization and allegedly converting same to his personal use.

Nemesis caught up with the suspect, according to the police, when the management of the bank audited the account and discovered the fraud.

They sacked him and handed him over to the police to face prosecution.

He was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s court on a 3-count charge of felony to wit, forgery and stealing.

The police alleged that the accused was arrested following a written complaint lodged by the management of the bank that the accused in 2008 while he was the regional branch manager in Kaduna State, forged some documents and illegally used the fixed deposit of the National Union of Textile Garment as a collateral to obtain a N43,781,478.63 as loan from the bank without approval, and converted the money to his personal use.

During interrogation, he allegedly could not explain what he used the money to do.

After investigation by Supol Daniel Attah and his team, the accused was charged to court.

The offences, the prosecutor, DSP Raymond Odion Akhaine, said contravened Sections 409,285 and 313 (1) 6 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the magistrate admitted him on bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate directed that one of the sureties must be a bank staff and the other must be working with a reputable firm.
She adjourned the matter till 16 May 2013 for mention.

The defendant was moved to Ikoyi Prison pending when he would fulfil the bail conditions.