EFCC: 16 Witnesses To Testify Against Ex-Onitsha Ecobank Manager Arraigned For N50m Fraud
Jossy Honnah, the former Onitsha branch manager of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, has been charged with fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Enugu zonal office.
Between August 2013 and June 2016, Honnah is accused of stealing, modifying, forgery, and defrauding a customer, Chief Vincent Okparaku, and his firm, Vicyntel Nigeria Ltd, of N50, 315, 780 (fifty million, three hundred and fifteen thousand, seven hundred and eighty naira).
Ecobank Nig. Ltd and Jossy Honah were accused of stealing various sums of money at different intervals from the account of Vicyntel Enterprises domiciled with the bank, according to a twenty-count charge filed against Honnah and Ecobank by Ajobiewe Rotimi Enitan of the EFCC on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria as the complainant.
The charge sheet seen by our correspondent states: “Count one: stealing contrary to section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra Sate and punishable under Section 353 (12) of the same law. Ecobank Nig. Ltd and Jossy Honnah, while being a staff of Ecobank Nig Ltd between the 14th of August, 2013 to the 19th of September, 2013, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, with fraudulent intent, did commit a felony to wit: stealing the aggregate sum of N1, 038,000 (one million, thirty eight thousand naira) being property of Vicyntel Enterprises and thereby committed an offence.
“Statement of offence count two: Stealing contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap, 36, Anambra State and punishable under section 353 (12) of the same law. Particulars of offence: Count 2: Ecobank Nig Ltd and Jossy Honnah, whilst being a staff of Ecobank Nig. Ltd between the 10th of June, 2014 and the 22nd of December, 2014 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, with fraudulent intent, did commit a felony to wit, stealing the aggregate sum of N4,017, 300 (four million, seventeen thousand, three hundred naira) being property of Vicyntel Enterprises and thereby committed an offence among other charges.”
The EFCC also named 19 witnesses and 16 exhibits as proofs of evidence against the duo in the charge sheet.
During the case’s mention, Ecobank and Honnah pled not guilty to the charges, and the presiding judge, Justice S. N. Odili of the Onitsha High Court, adjourned the hearing to September 15th and 16th, respectively.
The arraignment of Ecobank and Mr Honnah came as a result of a petition filed in 2016 by Chibueze Oguchienti, counsel to Chief Okparaku and Vicyntel Enterprises, detailing various fraudulent practices allegedly committed by Honnah in the account of Vicyntel Enterprises, a major dealer in many communications networks in Nigeria, which was domiciled with Ecobank.
