Court Remands Ecobank Staff In Prison For Allegedly Stealing $8,907 From Customer

Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has remanded an Ecobank employee, Anieka Udoh, who stole $8,907 customer’s deposit in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services.

Udoh, who was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one count charge of stealing, is to remain behind bars until the perfection of his bail terms.

The EFCC accused the banker of stealing the money from Major-General Umaru Mohammad.

According to EFCC Udoh who is also standing trial in a similar case before Justice Saliu Seidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos, allegedly stole the money from the victim while he was a staff of Ecobank.

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The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by the court registrar.

The charge reads: “That you Anieka Udoh sometime in 2006 whilst being a staff of Ecobank Plc in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, stole and fraudulently converted the sum of USD8, 907 (Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seven United States Dollars) property of Major General Umaru Mohammad.”

After the plea of the defendant was taken, EFCC counsel, Kufre Uduak asked the court for a trial date and an order remanding the defendant in a Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

But the defence counsel, John Owoh informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution on behalf of his client.

Owoh, therefore, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms.

Justice Solebo in her ruling on the application, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum.

The judge directed that one of the sureties must be resident in Lagos, with proof of residence.

She then adjourned the case to November 28, 2019, for the commencement of trial.