Ololade Adeyanju
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, has sentenced a former staff of Fidelity Bank Plc., Ihionu Chibuike, to six years in prison for impersonation.
The judge arrived at the decision after he found Chibuike guilty of the amended four counts charge that touches on stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and impersonation made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Prior to the decision of the court, the anti-graft agency had accused the convict of opening a savings account number 6052039264 in the name of one Chimezie Ifekwe with relevant document as instructed by the financial institution.
However, the victim, believing that the account had been opened for him in Fidelity Bank, transferred N20 million.
The EFCC further revealed that Chibuike had equally identified himself as Chimezezie Ifekwe with international passport number Ao4668721 allegedly issued on April 16, 2013.
The charge reads in part: “Ihionu Chibuike sometime in February, 2013, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, stole and fraudulently converted to your own personal use the sum of N4.8 million, property of Mrs Chibuzo Nwakwu.
“Ihionu Chibuike sometimes in the month of February, 2013, at Ikeja, within the Ikeja Judicial Division stole and fraudulently converted to own personal use the sum of N200.000 property of Chimezie Ifekwe.
“Ihionu Chibuike, sometime in February, 2013 within the Ikeja Judicial Division and in order to facilitate the commission of the offence of stealing forged the account opening documents of Fidelity Bank Plc., purporting same to be that of Chimezie Ifekwe, the account holder.
“Ihionu Chibuike, sometime in February, 2013 within the Ikeja judicial Division and in order to facilitate the commission of the offence of stealing forged instruction letter of Fidelity Bank Plc., and gave same to Chimezie Ifekwe purporting same to have emanated from Fidelity Bank Plc.
In handing down the judgment, Justice Lawal-Akapo held that the former Fidelity Bank staff should spend one year on the 1st count, one year on the 2nd count, 2 years on the 3rd count and 2 years on the 4th count.
The judge further ordered that upon the completion of his jail term, Chibuike should make a restitution of N1, 451, 592million being the outstanding balance to the victim.
According to the judge, Chibuike who is expected to spend one year in prison, would have his jail term run concurrently from the day of his sentence.
Meanwhile, the convicted Chibuike has so far refunded N3, 498, 408million to his victim