Judiciary & Court
N179.4m Fraud: Ex-Zenith Bank manager re-arraigned
A former Zenith Bank Plc manager, Fidelis Egueke, was today, re-arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, over alleged N179,498,000 fraud, by men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
Fidelis, who last worked as the Asaba, Delta State of Zenith Bank as branch manager, was re-arraigned before Justice Tijjani Ringim on an amended 13 count-charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and fraud.
His re-arraignment was sequel to the transfer of former trial judge, Justice (Professor) Chuka Austine Obiozor, who has been sitting in another jurisdiction of the court.
The former Zenith Bank manager was first arraigned before Justice Obiozor, on December 1, 2020, on a three count-charge of the offences.
At the resumed hearing of the charge against the defendant, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu A. Animashaun, informed the court of a new amended charge against the defendant, which was not opposed to by his counsel, Ugochukwu Egwu.
Consequently, the prosecutor therefore urged the court to allow the reading of the charge, for the defendant to take his plea on the amended charge.
Upon reading the counts charge to the former Zenith Bank manager, he denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the 13 counts.
Following the not guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecutor, Animashaun, asked the court for a trial date.
Responding to the prosecutor’s application, counsel to the defendant, Barrister Egwu, pleaded with the court to allow his client to continue with the former bail terms granted him by the former trial judge.
He also told the court that the matter was initially slated for definite trial, he did not however object to the new trial date as requested by the prosecutor.
The defendant’s trial has been fixed for December 6, 7 and 8.
Rearraigning the defendant before the court, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, told the court that the defendant and others now at large, between May 14, 2010 and December 31, 2019, at No. 2 Balogun Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, conspired among yourselves to obtain the said sum from the Managing Director of Global Select Investment Services Limited, by false pretence that they will help him sell some goods and remit money to his bank.
He had also told the court that the former Zenith Bank manager, upon selling the goods, diverted the proceeds to his account Zenith Bank Account Number 1020019782, while informing the fraud victim, that most of the goods he imported from USA were inferior and of low standard.
Animashaun also told the court that the offences committed by the defendant, are contrary to Section 8(a) and 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act. And Section 390 (7) Criminal Code Act Laws of Federation 2004.
