Ecobank Staff Jailed For Diverting Customer’s N7mn

An official of Ecobank Nigeria branch in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, has been convicted for fraudulent diversion of over N7 million belonging to the bank customer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in a statement on Monday gave the name of the convict as Ekpe Sunday.

He was prosecuted at the Federal High Court, Uyo, by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC said the money – N7,067,576.55 – which was the proceeds from the sales of shares belonging to one Okon Edem was lost through a fraudulent transaction engaged in by Sunday.

The convict, alongside his co-worker in the bank, Dennis James, was also prosecuted for conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.

Ecobank was one of the defendants in the trial.

They were first arraigned on May 21, 2014.

The court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, sentenced Sunday to two years in prison, with an option of N1 million fine.

He was also ordered to pay the victim N2 million as restitution.

The other bank official, James, was, however, discharged and acquitted by the court.

Justice Ojukwu however found Ecobank culpable.

She said the fraud victim, Edem, lost his money in the bank because of the bank’s negligence and, therefore, ordered the bank to refund N12.9 million to him.