EFCC Charges Heritage Bank MD Sekibo, Others To Court For N1bn Fraud

​CRIME NEWS

EFCC Charges Heritage Bank MD Sekibo, Others To Court For N1bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday charged the Managing Director of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifiesimama Sekibo, and five others before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for an alleged fraud of N1bn.

Sekibo was charged along with Dimire Dike, Wumi Adeniyi, Kolapo Daisi, Funmilayo Taiwo and Akeem Durotoye.

The charges border, among others, on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money under false pretences and forgery, Punch reports.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained the sum of N1bn from Heritage Bank Plc “by falsely representing the sum as proceeds of Vlamings Professional Limited’s investment in Heritage Bank Plc.”

It accused them of dishonestly converting the N1bn, being Heritage Bank’s property, to their own.

They were accused of forging a document titled ‘RE: Expression of Interest in Agric Fund Management Scheme.”

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly forged the document dated April 2, 2015, “purporting it to be a loan scheme executed in favour of Vlamings Professionals Limited.”

The EFCC claimed that the defendants sent the document to it (EFCC), hoping it would be mistaken as genuine.

They also allegedly forged another document titled, “Agric Management Scheme” purporting that it was approved by Heritage Bank Plc.

In the 10th count bordering on accessory to an act or offence contrary to sections 8(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006, the EFCC accused Dike, Adeniyi and Akee

Counsel for the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, said the defendants committed the offence between February 2015 and February 2017.

The court has yet to fix a date for the arraignment of the defendants.

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Heritage Bank MD, Sekibo Charged To Court For N605m Fraud By EFCC

​BREAKING NEWS

Heritage Bank MD, Sekibo Charged To Court For N605m Fraud By EFCC

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged the Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Ifiesimama Sekibo, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged fraud of N605,321,051.05.

Also joined with Sekibo in the charge sheet marked FHC/C/95C/18 is one Kolapo Kola Daisi and a company, Greame Properties Limited.

The EFCC, in the first count, alleged that Sekibo, on July 29, 2016, “while being a bank employee, to wit: Managing Director of Heritage Bank, acquired the sum of N180m beyond your legitimate income through Greame Properties Limited, a company owned by you.”

According to the anti-graft prosecutor, Ekene Iheanacho, who signed the charge sheet, the bank chief violated Section 7(1) of the Bank Employees, etc (Declaration of Assets) Act, Cap B1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and he is liable to be punished under Section 7(2) of the same Act.

In the second count, the anti-graft agency alleged that Sekibo and Greame Properties Limited “did retain in the Diamond Bank Plc account number 0006129214 operated by Greame Properties Limited the sum of N180m received from the account of Vlamings Professionals Limited when you reasonably ought to know that the said money was direct proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: conspiracy and fraud.”

According to the EFCC, Sekibo and Greame Properties Limited acted contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and are liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

In the third count, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo “acquired N125, 321, 051.05 beyond your legitimate income through the Diamond Bank Plc account of FIFC Development and Management Limited operated by you.”

In count four, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo conspired with Daisi “to transfer the sum of N300m proceeds of an unlawful activity,” into the account of Hiltrans Global Investment Limited “when you reasonably ought to know that the said fund was fraudulently withdrawn from the account of Heritage Bank Company Limited in Access Bank Plc.”

The court has yet to fix a date for their arraignment.

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