The Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Justice Elias Abua has convicted and sentenced two former staff of a commercial bank (name withheld), Titus Chima Nwankwo and Utibe-Abasi Ifiok George for stealing the sum of N2.9m (Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira ) from the account of a deceased customer of the bank.
In August 2021, two of their accomplices, who also were staff of the bank, Daniel Akpan Eno and Mbuk Idongesit were convicted by another judge, Justice Edem Ita Kufre of the Cross River State High Court, Calabar, after pleading guilty of conspiracy and theft of funds in the account of the deceased customer.
Nwankwo and Utibe-Abasi, had pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on forgery, conspiracy, breach of trust and stealing, upon their arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Abua convicted and sentenced George to three months imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only) while Nwankwo bagged three months imprisonment with an option of fine of N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira only).
On June 16, 2021, a petitioner had alleged that the convicts conspired and forged the signature of one Godfried Francis Osso, a deceased customer of the bank and fraudulently diverted the said sum for their personal uses.
Consequently, they were apprehended and after investigation, were arraigned for the said offence.
Specifically, the duo of Daniel Akpan Eno and Mbuk Idongesit were convicted on August 4, 2021 after they pleaded guilty to separate one count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and fraudulent transfers. A third defendant, and alleged accomplice, Victor John Okon had pleaded “not guilty”. His trial was adjourned till August 10, 2021 for consideration of bail application.
Justice Kufre convicted and sentenced Akpan to three months imprisonment with an option of fine of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50, 000.00), while Idongesit was sentenced to three months imprisonment with an option of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00) fine.
The convicts’ journey to prison started on May 23, 2021 when Idongesit alongside Utibe George approached Akpan with the burial programme of one Godfried Godwin Osso, a deceased customer of the Bank, whom George claimed was his step – father, with a plot to steal from the deceased’s account.
On May 24, 2021, George concluded the deal with the convicts and also contacted Victor Okon – the 3rd defendant, who was a Teller from another branch of the bank to ease access to the funds in the account of the deceased.
A 50% sharing formula was agreed upon by the conspirators and the plot was executed.
Following a petition from the bank, the EFCC alleging suspicious dissipation of monies in the deceased account into the accounts of family members and acquaintances, from where they were diverted to personal use.
Investigation revealed that on June 19, 2019 Victor Okon connived with George Ifiok Utibe, who was then at large and received the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N1, 500, 000.00). Daniel Akpan also benefited the sum of One Million and Forty Thousand Naira (N1, 040, 000.00) while Godwin Mbuk benefited the sum of One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N130, 000.00) only.