Banker in court for defrauding house buyer

Tony Odigbo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arraigned a banker, Chika Odigbo, before Justice D. Z. Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on one count of obtaining money under false pretence.

 The EFCC said the complainant, one Ademola Oluwayemi, allegedly gave the accused, who was an employee of Intercontinental Homes Limited (now Access Bank) N10m to open a fixed deposit account which the accused told him was a criterion for buying a house from the bank.

The anti-graft body explained to the court that the accused allegedly converted the money to his use.

 The count read,  “That you, Chika Tony Odigbo, on the 15th day of June, 2012, at Abuja, in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory, being entrusted with the sum of, N10m by one Mr. Ademola Oluwayemi of shop 16 Omega Centre, Wuse 11, Abuja, to open a fixed deposit account for him with the Intercontinental Homes Limited, did dishonestly converts to your own use the said sum and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria ( Abuja) 2004”.

 The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

 The prosecuting counsel, Aisha Ibrahim, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

The defence counsel, Oladimeji Ekengba, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Senchi granted bail to the accused in the sum of N2m and one surety in like sum.

 The case was adjourned till February 3, 2014 for trial.