2 Convicted Bankers Confess Stealing Only Dead Customers Money

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Two jailed bank staff (name of bank withheld) have confessed before the Court they only steal dead customers money at the bank once they have information that the customers was late.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Command, secured the conviction of two bank officials, Daniel Akpan Eno and Mbuk Idongesit, before Justice Edem Ita Kufre of the Cross River State High Court, Calabar for conspiracy and theft of funds in the account of a deceased customer of a commercial bank.

The duo were convicted on Wednesday 4th August, 2021, after pleading guilty to separate one count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and fraudulent transfers.

A third defendant and alleged accomplice, Victor John Okon, pleaded “not guilty”. His trial was adjourned till 10th August, 2021, for consideration of bail application.

Justice Kufre convicted and sentenced Akpan to three months imprisonment with an option of fine of N50, 000.00), while Idongesit was sentenced to three months imprisonment with an option of N30, 000.00 fine.

Their conviction was confirmed by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who stated the trial started on May 23, 2021, when Idongesit (alongside one Utibe George – currently at large), approached Akpan with the burial programme of one Godfrey Godwin Osso, a deceased customer of the bank, whom George (now at large) claimed was his stepfather, with a plot to steal from the deceased’s account.

On May 24, 2021, George was said to have concluded the deal with the convicts and also contacted a Teller (Victor Okon – the 3rd defendant) from another branch of the bank, to ease access to the funds in the account of the deceased.
A 50% sharing formula was agreed upon by the conspirators and the plot was executed.The Commission, Uwujaren said waded in following a petition from the bank alleging suspicious dissipation of monies in the deceased account into the accounts of family members and acquaintances, from where they were diverted to personal use.

Investigation by the EFCC operatives revealed that on June 19, 2019, Victor Okon connived with George Ifiok Utibe (at large) and received the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N1, 500, 000.00).Daniel Akpan also benefited the sum of One Million and Forty Thousand Naira (N1, 040, 000.00) while Godwin Mbuk benefited the sum of One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N130, 000.00) only.

The judge ordered the convicts remanded at the Nigerian Correctional facility until they pay their fines, while Victor was remanded at the Commission’s detention facility pending the hearing of his bail application.