EFCC arraigns three over alleged attempt to defraud bank N10 billion

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Ibeh Emmanuel, Chidiebere Ihekoronye, and Akubuo Chimuanya before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for allegedly attempting to fraudulently obtain N10 billion from Fidelity Bank Plc. A fourth defendant, Austen Peaks Aniekan, is at large.

The defendants face five charges, including conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and forgery. The EFCC alleges they conspired on or about 16 April to obtain the money by falsely representing that Maton Engineering Limited had issued an irrevocable standing order to transfer N10 billion in favour of Prospera Finance Limited. The defendants pleaded not guilty. Justice Olubusola Okunuga ordered them remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, adjourning the case to 18 June for bail hearings and trial.