Alleged N605m fraud: EFCC charges Heritage Bank MD, Sekibo, to court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged the
Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Ifiesimama Sekibo, before the
Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged fraud of
N605,321,051.05.

Joined with Sekibo in the charge sheet marked FHC/C/95C/18 is
one Kolapo Kola Daisi and company, Greame Properties Limited.

The EFCC, in the first count, alleged that Sekibo, on July 29,
2016, “while being a bank employee, to wit: Managing Director of
Heritage Bank, acquired the sum of N180m beyond your legitimate
income through Greame Properties Limited, a company owned by
you.”

The EFCC prosecutor, Ekene Iheanacho, who signed the charge
sheet, said the bank chief violated Section 7(1) of the Bank
Employees, Etc (Declaration of Assets) Act, Cap B1, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004 and he is liable to be punished under
Section 7(2) of the same Act.

In the second count, the anti-graft agency alleged that Sekibo
and Greame Properties Limited “did retain in the Diamond Bank Plc
account number 0006129214 operated by Greame Properties Limited the
sum of N180m received from the account of Vlamings Professionals
Limited when you reasonably ought to know that the said money was
direct proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: conspiracy and
fraud.”

According to Iheanacho, Sekibo and Greame Properties Limited
acted contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act 2011
(as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and are liable to punishment
under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

In the third count, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo “acquired N125,
321, 051.05 beyond your legitimate income through the Diamond Bank
Plc account of FIFC Development and Management Limited operated by
you.”

In count four, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo conspired with Daisi
“to transfer the sum of N300m proceeds of unlawful activity,” into
the account of Hiltrans Global Investment Limited “when you
reasonably ought to know that the said fund was fraudulently
withdrawn from the account of Heritage Bank Company Limited in
Access Bank Plc.”

The court has yet to fix a date for arraignment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged the
Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Ifiesimama Sekibo, before the
Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged fraud of
N605,321,051.05.

Joined with Sekibo in the charge sheet marked FHC/C/95C/18 is
one Kolapo Kola Daisi and company, Greame Properties Limited.

The EFCC, in the first count, alleged that Sekibo, on July 29,
2016, “while being a bank employee, to wit: Managing Director of
Heritage Bank, acquired the sum of N180m beyond your legitimate
income through Greame Properties Limited, a company owned by
you.”

The EFCC prosecutor, Ekene Iheanacho, who signed the charge
sheet, said the bank chief violated Section 7(1) of the Bank
Employees, Etc (Declaration of Assets) Act, Cap B1, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004 and he is liable to be punished under
Section 7(2) of the same Act.

In the second count, the anti-graft agency alleged that Sekibo
and Greame Properties Limited “did retain in the Diamond Bank Plc
account number 0006129214 operated by Greame Properties Limited the
sum of N180m received from the account of Vlamings Professionals
Limited when you reasonably ought to know that the said money was
direct proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: conspiracy and
fraud.”

According to Iheanacho, Sekibo and Greame Properties Limited
acted contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act 2011
(as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and are liable to punishment
under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

In the third count, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo “acquired N125,
321, 051.05 beyond your legitimate income through the Diamond Bank
Plc account of FIFC Development and Management Limited operated by
you.”

In count four, the EFCC alleged that Sekibo conspired with Daisi
“to transfer the sum of N300m proceeds of unlawful activity,” into
the account of Hiltrans Global Investment Limited “when you
reasonably ought to know that the said fund was fraudulently
withdrawn from the account of Heritage Bank Company Limited in
Access Bank Plc.”

The court has yet to fix a date for arraignment.