Bank Manager Narrates How UBA Losses N299.8m To Alleged Fraudsters
A former manager with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Anthonia Ogugua has told a Federal High Court, Lagos how OBD Petroleum and four others defrauded the UBA bank Plc the sum of N299.8 million.
The four individuals accused of defrauding the bank of the said sums are: Obinna Michael Umeanor; Isaac Okorodudu; Ilolo Ogho Gift and Samson Egbuwoku.
The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu led court on five counts charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and unlawful enrichment.
The defendants’ plea was retaken on Thursday, on the said charges, and they all pleaded not guilty.
Antonia who now work with a new generation bank, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, told court how the fraud was perpetrated by the defendants while she was Bode Thomas branch manager of the bank in 2014.
Anthonia, who was the first prosecution witness to be called in matter said: “Obinna, the owner of OBD Petroleum approached the UBA Plc when she was the branch manager at the Bode Thomas branch in 2014 for a facility in respect of a contract.
“The facility was to supply petroleum product. The facility was processed and conditions was met, the structure of the facility was to that there fist defendant to bring guarantee which was given to first defendant, to supply petroleum product to Alabama Energy.
“When we confirmed after from Alanstan, it is was the Alanstan MD, Mr Late Smith that confirmed that they received 1.1 million meter of AGO.
“Based on this, UBA disbursed the sum of N139 million to OBD Petroleum’s account. The money was move to Imad Oil & Gas based on OBD’s instruction. On the 10th of contract given to Alanstan to OBD Petroleum we are expecting payment 30days after receiving the product.
“The money, N160.5 million did not come as expected. So we reached out to Mr Obinna, the owner of OBD petroleum. We met Obama, he told us that there were delay from Alanstan that we should expect it in another 30 days.
“When the money was not coming, we followed up with Alanstan itself. Alanstan repeated the same Obinna told us that he had delay in payment. This went on for a while, until the went to Special Fraud Unit to complain”.
Following the conclusion of Anthonio’s evidence, the prosecutor, Mrs. Bode-Ayeni, tendered the bank guarantee and confirmation invoice from Imad Oil, Sales invoice of first defendant to Alabama confirming the quantity and quality supply and his commitment to pay N160.5 million to UBA.
The defendants counsel, who include; Hope Eremosele; Joseph Okobieme and C. B. Ejike, did not opposed to tend ring of the documents and Court admitted it was admitted as exhibits.
Thereafter, the defence teams asked the court for an adjournment to enable them study the witness evidence before cross examining her.
Following the prayer of the defendant counsel for adjournment, the court granted it and subsequently adjourned till April 6, 7 and 23, 2020, for continuation of defendants’ trial.
Charges against the defendants in charge marked FHC/L/281c/2016 reads; “That you OBD Petroleum Ltd and Obinna Michael Umeanor’ m’ on or about October 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did obtained the sum of N160, 000, 000.00 (One hundred and Sixty million naira) from United Bank of Africa by false pretence and with intent to defraud on the pretext that the money would be used to supply 1,100,000 Iitres of A60 to LastaI energy, Ltd a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other FraudRelated Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
“That you OBD Petroleum Ltd, Obinna Michael Umeanor ‘m’, Isaac Okorodudu, Ogho Gift ‘M’ and others at large, on or about October 2014, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did conspire with one another to obtain the sum of N139,860,000.00 (One hundred and thirty nine million eight hundred and sixty thousand naira) from United Bank of Africa (UBA) by false pretence and with intent to defraud on the pretext that the money would beused to supply 1,100,000 liters of A60 to Lastan Energy Ltd, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 read in conjunction with section 1(3) of the same Act punishable under the same sections of the Act.
“That you Obinna Michael Umeanor ‘m’ on or about October 2014 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did forged a Zenith bank statement of Account No. 1013015544 belonging to 080 petroleum limited with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of United Bank of Africa Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and I punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you lsaac Okorodudu ‘m’, Ilolo Ogho Gift ‘m’, Samson Egbuwoku ‘m’ and others at large on or about October, 2014 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did forge a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy No. 21/21/1991 AR; Registered in the names Rotimi Olawoye which property is situate at Lekki, Peninsular, Plot 6 Block 82 Eti Osa Area of Lagos State Measuring 973.7018 square meters knowing same to be false with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and to the prejudice of United Bank of Africa Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you Obinna Michael Umeanor ‘m’ , Isaac Okorodudu ‘m’, Ilolo Ogho gift ‘F’ and others at large on or about October 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did conspire with one another to indirectly convert the sum of N139,860,000.00 (One hundred and thirty nine million, Eight hundred and sixty thousand Naira) property of United Bank of Africa Plc which you reasonably knew formed part of the fraudulent act, to wit: unlawful enrichment and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the money Laundering Act, 2015 read in conjunction with section 15 (2) (a) of the same Act and punishable under the same sections Act”.
