Former Access Bank Employees Face EFCC Charges for Alleged N16m Theft.
The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against three ex-employees of Access Bank and an accomplice on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, for purportedly embezzling N15,944,100 from the bank.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the accused individuals—Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke—allegedly siphoned the funds before its transfer to the bank’s bullion unit for onward movement to the Central Bank.
The suspects were reportedly handed over to the EFCC by Access Bank’s Nottidge branch in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Appearing before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu State, the defendants faced a four-count charge related to conspiracy and theft.
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One of the charges states: “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit, retaining the sum of N7,996,800.00 meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha which you knew or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20 (b).”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Subsequently, the EFCC’s counsel, Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, requested a trial date and for the defendants to be held in custody at Enugu State correctional facility.
Justice Umar adjourned the case until May 22, 2024, for trial, while the defendants were remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail application.
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