The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction of a banker, Nsa Ayi before Justice Mojisola Dada of Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
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A statement from the EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren revealed that the convict, Nsa Ayi who was a staff of Corronation Merchant Bank Lagos was allegedly stolen customer’s N700m and deposited same into his account in GTB and Zenith banks.
He was said to have connived with unknown parties to move funds using customers’ electronic instructions meant for investment in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds, Treasury Bills and Fixed Deposits.
The defendant also allegedly altered instructions and falsified signatures of customers to transfer money into various accounts outside the bank.
The money was reportedly transferred in tranches into his Guaranty Trust Bank account No. 0001600855 as well as his Zenith Bank account No. 1002771899.
READ ALSO: Court convicts a banker for N700m fraud
One of the counts read: “That you, Nsa Ayi, on or about 4th day of February 2015, being an employee of Coronation Merchant Bank, in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud, falsified account No. 1990000158 belonging to African Alliance Insurance Plc in possession of your employer by debiting the said account to the tune of N172, 076, 712.33, using an instruction which you purported to have been issued by the said African Alliance Insurance Plc.â€
Another count read: “That you, Nsa Ayi, on or about 13th day of January 2014, being an employee of Coronation Merchant Bank, in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud, falsified account No. 2990001176 belonging to Ogunjemiyo E. Mascot in possession of your employer by debiting the said account to the tune of N4,277,000.00, using an instruction which you purported to have been issued by Ogunjemiyo E. Mascot.â€
When the 11 charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty, thereby setting the stage for his trial.
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Counsel to the defendant, Robert Clarke, had pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail on the grounds that he needed to take his son abroad for surgery.
The prosecution had, however, opposed the bail application, saying that “He is a flight-risk who had plans to relocate with his entire family to the United States of America last year, if not for the timely response in arresting him by the EFCC.â€
During the proceedings on March 6, 2018, the defendant had changed his plea from ‘not guilty’ to ‘guilty’.
In view of this, the prosecution had reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence.
The judge subsequently convicted Nsa Ayi on all the charges and deferred sentencing till May 4.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada sentenced Nsa Ayi to seven years imprisonment on each count of the charge.
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The sentences are to run concurrently from the day of arrest.
The Judge further held that all properties traced to the defendant be confiscated till it amounts to the sum of N700million and should be restituted to the plaintiff, Coronation Merchant Bank.
www.sojworld.com © May 5, 2018
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