The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) convened on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, to arraign three former bankers, namely Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, alongside Chidubem Angela Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu State.
The charges against them, totaling N15,944,100.00 (Fifteen Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, One Hundred Naira), encompass allegations of conspiracy and theft. One of the charges specifically states that Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke conspired in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State, to retain N7,996,800.00 (Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) earmarked for remittance to the Central Bank of Nigeria, which belonged to Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha.
Upon the reading of the charges, the defendants entered pleas of “not guilty.” Consequently, counsel representing the EFCC, Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, requested a trial date and the remand of the defendants at Enugu State Correctional Facility. In response, defense counsel, O. O. Orji, apprised the court of a pending bail application.
Justice Umar scheduled the trial for May 22, 2024, and remanded the defendants in EFCC custody pending the bail application hearing. Notably, Ibekwem, Chidimma, and Raymond were handed over to the EFCC by Access Bank Plc on February 22, 2023, for alleged misappropriation of N15,944,100.00 before the funds were scheduled for transfer to the Central Bank of Nigeria. These individuals had previously served as employees at the Nottidge branch of Access Bank in Onitsha, Anambra State.
