The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu State Zonal Command, has brought Ogbu Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, and Chidubem Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba of the Federal High Court in Enugu State.
This information was shared via the commission’s official platform on Monday, March 11.
As per the statement, on February 22, 2023, Access Bank plc handed over Ibekwem, Chidimma, and Raymond, former employees of the Nottidge branch of the bank in Onitsha, Anambra State, to the agency for allegedly embezzling the sum of N15,944,100.
The post further mentioned that they were charged with four counts related to conspiracy and theft.
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, conspired among yourselves to commit felony.
“Specifically, you retained the sum of N7,996,800.00 meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria, which belonged to Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha. You knew or ought to have known that the said sum was proceeds of an unlawful act.
“This act constitutes an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, punishable under Section 20(b).”
Upon being presented with the charges, they entered pleas of not guilty.
The EFCC’s attorney, Ahmad Abdullahi, requested the court to schedule a trial date and detain the defendants in the Enugu State Correctional Facility, considering their pleas.
The accused were remanded in EFCC custody until the hearing of their bail application.
