By Chisaa Okoye (Business Reporter)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, have arrested two former staff of Union Bank in Makurdi for stealing the sum of N4,199,500.00 belonging to a deceased customer of the bank, Emmanuel Azer Agenna.
The suspects, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute were arrested on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Makurdi, Benue State.
The bankers nefarious acts were uncovered after the family of the deceased approached the bank for the balance on the account of the deceased for probate processing.
The deceased’s customer’s family members were said to have disputed the amount the bank gave as the balance and subsequently lodged a formal complaint to the management of the bank, regarding the unauthorised debits on the account.
Based on the complaint, the bank was said to have carried out an internal investigation and its findings revealed that a debit card was procured on the deceased’s customer account on May 10, 2023 by Ogoh, one of the bank’s Sales and Service Associates which was authorised by the bank on the same date.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC said in a statement on Saturday that further findings by the bank showed that the procured card by Ogoh was handed over to another Sales and Service Associates, Agbo Okwute who eventually delivered the card to their accomplice for transfer and withdrawal of funds from the account of the deceased.
According to the EFCC, several withdrawals were made by the suspects through their accomplice.
This prompted the bank’s management to petition the EFCC for further action. Acting on the petition, the anti-graft agency arrested the duo in connection with the fraudulent debits on the deceased customer, Agenna’s account.
The Commission said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.