Convict allegedly swindled bank manager from prison

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

Ms Emike Ukhuedobah on Thursday narrated to a Lagos High Court, Ikeja how a convicted fraudster, Ikechukwu Ogbu, currently serving a 15-year jail term in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, swindled a bank manager, Mr. Pat Enechukwu, of N12.3m.

Enechukwu, a branch manager in one of the first generation banks in Abuja, is a husband to one of Ukhuedobah’s aunts.

Ogbu was convicted in 2008 for fraud related offences.

Ukhuedobah was testifying before Justice Lateefat Okunnu in the ongoing trial of Ogbu along with two others for the alleged fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Ogbu alongside John Chinonso and Chuks Ibebagwu for conspiring to commit the fraud.

Ukhuedobah claimed she knew Ogbu through an advertorial the latter placed on love links page of the Vanguard Newspapers of March 7, 2009.

Ogbu, already in prison then had portrayed himself in the advertorial as Prince Eze, who was seeking a woman aged between 34 and 45 to marry.

Following this, 43-year-old Ukhuedobah travelled to Lagos to meet Ogbu, who told her he was in detention temporarily in Kirikiri Prison for an alleged money laundering offence.

The duo’s relationship had continued with the hope that it could end up in marriage.

Ogbu, in the process, got to know Enechukwu, who happened to be  husband of one of Ukhuedobah’s aunts.

Ukhuedoba, who was being led in evidence on Thursday by EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kayode Oni,  said,”In the advert, he claimed that he was Prince Eze, 46, from Anambra State, living in Lagos and urgently needed a working class business lady between 39 and 45 to marry.

“I wanted to go out of my domain and I was looking for friendship.

“I had a friend who did it and she is happily married till today.

“I said let me try and that was why I contacted him.”

She said when she got to Lagos, she called Ogbu, who said she was being detained at Kirikiri Prison temporarily for alleged money laundering.

According to her, when she got to the prison, she received a warm reception by the prison warders, who gave her the impression that Ogbu was an influential person.

She said her aunt had been supporting her in the relationship with Ogbu, only for her to realise later that the woman’s husband had paid N12.3m into Ogbu’s account.

The money was allegdely paid into the accounts of Ogbu’s co-accused, to enable him to bribe EFCC officials to let him off the hook.

Ogbu was said to have told Enechukwu that his foreign partners were going to invest in the bank manager’s branch once  he (Ogbu) was released from the prison.

PUNCH