Four bankers in court over alleged N33.7m fraud

The Bayelsa State Police Command has dragged four bankers before a Federal High Court, sitting in Yenagoa, over alleged diversion of the sum of N33.7million.

The N33.7million is said to be a compensation ordered to be remitted by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) following a ruling on oil spillage damages at Azuzuama Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

According to the police, the order of the court, allegedly violated through the diversion of fund, was a Garnishee Order Absolute, which was made against the bank and Agip to pay the ordered N33.7 million to the court and failure of which the judgment creditors levy execution.

The four bankers, identified as Mr. Ndubuisi Ogu, 42, John Iyinbo, 58, Mr. Iheaka Onuoha, 43 and Okwesili Ugochukwu, alleged to be at large and the bank, were dragged before the court on a five count charge of conspiracy, fraud, theft and unlawful diversion of fund.

The charge sheet, with suit number FHC/YNG/46/2016, prepared by the Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police, F.N Agwu, states that the four accused bankers and the bank, allegedly conspired among themselves to defeat the execution of an order of the court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 518 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap.C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The charge states: “That at about 6pm on same day, the accused did unlawfully by false pretenses and with intent to defraud, caused the reversal of N33, 699,450.00 already credited to the bank account of the registrar of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa domicile at Fidelity Account Number 60200007721 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code.

“ That on the same date and at about 5.46pm, the accused with intent to defraud sent electronic message to the Central Clearing Group, stating that there was an existing order of interlocutory injunction from the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers State restraining the bank from paying the issued Manager’s cheques, an information which was false and caused unlawful reversal of the sum of N33.699 million credited to the account of the registrar, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention)Act, 2015.”

Barrister Kelvin Ezinna Ejelonu, Counsel to the Azuzuama Community, described the suit filed against the bankers as “justified.” 

He noted that the case would liberate the benefitting community from the unbridled oppression, suppression and downright wickedness of an Oil company, Agip to the host community, with the alleged aid of their bankers and police officer attached to the Legal Department of the force headquarters in Abuja.

According to Ejelonu, although the missing N33.7million compensation money was ordered to be paid to the affected indigenes of Azuzuama community due to the negative impact of the multiple oil spills between 2004 and 2006, but instead of Agip to pay compensation as ordered, they connived with some persons and took the money. The money did not reach any of those affected by the spill till date.”