Bank Manager In N187 Million Fraud Docked

A branch manager of Sterling Bank who over a period of months allegedly issued out fake deposit certificates for N187 million received from a microfinance bank was on Tuesday docked before an Enugu High court for fraud.

Oliver Anidiobi who was also the accounts officer for OHHA Microfinance Bank according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC did not remit the funds to Sterling Bank. Rather, he used the funds to build up a property portfolio and other investments.

Anidiobi, who was also the Account Relationship Officer of OHHA Microfinance Bank, is facing a 32-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing from the microfinance bank.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that he used his position to convince the microfinance bank to deposit the said amount with him with an accompanying letter of instruction (which he acknowledged) to Sterling Bank. He fixed the amount on behalf of the microfinance bank, only for him to forge a ‘Fixed Deposit Certificate’ as evidence of their investment.

He, thereafter, upon receipt of several instalments of the money totallingN187 million (One Hundred and Eighty Seven Million Naira) diverted the money to his personal use to build a two-storey building of five flats, several plots of land along Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway and an uncompleted four bedroom bungalow at Centenary Estate, Enugu. He also made an investment of over N65 million (Sixty Five Million Naira).

His journey to the dock began when OHHA Microfinance Bank decided to liquidate their two fixed deposits only to discover that there was no record of the transactions found in the system.

One of the counts against him reads: “Anidiobi Oliver Chukwuka, sometime between 15th day of August, 2014 and 28th day of August, 2014 in Enugu, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of N5 million naira only, being property of OHHA Microfinance Bank Limited and thereby committed an offence.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

In view of the plea, the defence counsel, O.A.U. Onyema, informed the Court that he had an application for the bail of the defendant, but the prosecuting counsel, Micheal Ani, told the Court that “the defence just served me in court this morning some few minutes ago”.

Justice Ajah, after listening to both counsels adjourned the matter to June 7, 2019 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that he should be remanded in prison.

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