Two Former Bank Staff of Diamond Bank Sentenced To Jail For N25million Fraud

Two people have been jailed by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for defrauding Diamond bank to the tune of N25million.

The convicts, a former Manager of Diamond Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Chinyere Oti and a former Account Officer of the same bank, Odigboh Okechukwu, were sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Read Also: https://ekohotblog.com/2019/11/19/abia-gov-ikpeazu-defends-2020-budget-before-state-assembly/

The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on November 19, 2009, arraigned the duo on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The charges were amended on April 25, 2019.

Count four reads: ” Odigboh Okechukwu and Chinyere Oti on or about the 23rd day of October, 2008 at Diamond Bank Plc Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division did fraudulently steal the sum of Twenty Million Four Hundred And Thirty One Thousand Three Hundred And Forty Two Naira Five Kobo ( N20, 431, 342.05) property of Diamond Bank Plc by means of Diamond Bank Cheque No. 16216303 through an unfunded account in the name of Achufa Investment Limited operated by Odigboh Okechukwu and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 381(1) and punishable under Section 390( 9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999″ .

Delivering his judgment, Justice Iyayi- Lamikanra found the two defendants guilty of the charges and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each or an option of fine of One Million Naira only) each.