United Bank for Africa, popularly known as UBA, two of its staff and a limited liability company, Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited and its Managing Director has been dragged before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos.
UBA and the other defendants are facing a four-count amended charge of allegedly swindling a Lagos businessman, Chief Vincent Ezenwa, to the tune of N242, 015, 000.00, (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira), equivalent of 950,000 Dollar.
The four-count charge was filed by the Police Prosecution Counsel, Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, SAN, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.
DCP Lough is leading another Police Legal Officer from Lagos, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, in the suit that alleged one, Emeka Njoku, 41yrs, a former Marketer with United Bank for Africa; Onyinyechi Oraegbunem “F”, a former Branch Manager of UBA, Aba; and Pamela Onaga “F”, a former staff of UBA (Account Officer) to Vincent Ezenwa now at large and UBA, between April 3rd, 2013 and June 31st, 2013 in Lagos and Aba, defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa of the sum of N,242,015,000, (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira).
The police in the charge-sheet alleged that the UBA and the other four defendants while acting in concert and with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa, Managing Director of Vinna Investment Limited aids and abets one, Chibueze Ojeh, Managing Director of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited, owners of Lekki County Homes and Castle & Logistic Limited to commit offence of obtaining money by false pretence through inducement of Chief Ezenwa to transfer the sum of N,242,015,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira) from his UBA account to the UBA account of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited in Lagos, which was withdraw by Chibueze Ojeh.
The offences allegedly committed by UBA and the other four defendants are contrary to and punishable under Sections,1(1),1(3), 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences Act 2006.
However, the amended charges filed before the Court include:
Second Amended Charge:
Count 1:
That you Chibueze Ojeh ‘m’ 40years MD/CEO of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited of Lekki County Homes, Westend Estate Road 4, House 4, Lekki Lagos State; Obinna Nwosu ‘m’ 45years of No. 1 Shofidiya Close, Adegoke Estate, Masha Roundabout Sururere Lagos; Emeka Njoku ‘m’ 41years former Marketer with United Bank for Africa, of No. 3 Azikiwe Road Port Harcourt; Castle Equipment & Logistics Ltd and United Bank for Africa; Onyinyechi Oraegbunem ‘F’ former Branch Manager of UBA Aba, and Pamela Onaga ‘F’ former staff of UBA (Account Officer) to Vincent Ezenwa now at large between 3rd April 2013 and 31st June 2013 in Lagos and Aba, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while acting in concert and with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa MD/CEO of Vinna Investment Limited conspired together to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Sections 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act.
Count 2:
That you Chibueze Ojeh ‘m’ 40years MD/CEO of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited of Lekki County Homes, Westend Estate Road 4, House 4 Lekki Lagos State; Obinna Nwosu ‘m’ 45years of No. 1 Shofidiya Close, Adegoke Estate, Masha Roundabout Surulere Lagos; Emeka Njoku ‘m’ 41years former Marketer with United Bank for Africa, of No. 3 Azikiwe Road Port Harcourt; Castle Equipment & Logistics Ltd and United Bank for Africa; Onyinyechi Oraegbunem ‘F’ former Branch Manager of UBA Aba, and Pamela Onaga ‘F’ former staff of UBA Aba Branch (Account Officer) to Vincent Ezenwa now at large between 3rd April 2013 and 31st June 2013 in Lagos/Aba, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert and with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa, MD/CEO of Vinna Investment Limited deceitfully induced Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa through an agreement and collected the sum of N242,015,000,00 (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira), equivalent to $950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) from him on the pretence that you will transfer the Dollars to his customers in Italy, but having collected the money you converted same to your use, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006.
Count 3:
That you Chibueze Ojeh ‘m’ 40years MD/CEO of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited of Lekki County Homes, Westend Estate Road 4, House 4 Lekki Lagos State and Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited, between 3rd April 2013 and 31st June 2013 in Lagos, and Aba within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert and with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa, MD/CEO of Vinna Investment Limited deceitfully induced Chief Ezenwa through an agreement and collected the sum of N242,015,000,00 (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira), equivalent to $950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) from him on the pretence that you will transfer the Dollars to his customers in Italy, but having collected the money you converted same to your use, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006.
Count 4:
That you Emeka Njoku ‘m’ 41 years, former Marketer with United Bank for Africa, of No. 3 Azikiwe Road Port Harcourt; Onyinyechi Oraegbunem `F’ former Branch Manager of UBA, Aba Branch and Pamela Onaga ‘F’ former staff of UBA (Account Officer) to Vincent Ezenwa now at large, and United Bank for Africa, between 3rd April 2013 and 31st June 2013 in Lagos and Aba, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert and with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa, MD/CEO of Vinna Investment Limited aids and abets Chibueze Ojeh ‘m’ 40years MD/CEO of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited of Lekki County Homes, Westend Estate road 4 House 4 Lekki Lagos State and Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited to commit the offence of obtaining money by false pretence when you induced Chief Nnamdi Vincent Ezenwa to transfer the sum of N242,015,000,00 (Two Hundred and Forty Two Million, Fifteen Thousand Naira), equivalent to $950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) from his UBA account in Aba Branch to the UBA account of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited in Lagos, which was withdrawn by Chibueze Ojeh, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006.
The matter has been adjourned till after Easter vacation for trial.