Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has convicted and sentenced the trio of James Ettete; Ekene Jude and Abidemi Adesanya to two and half years imprisonment each, for stealing the sum of N480,000 (Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira only) belonging to Skye Bank Plc.
They were arraigned in May 2014, on a six-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, forgery and use of false document. Justice Ipaye found them guilty on all the counts and convicted them accordingly. The sentence is to run from the day of arraignment.
Troubles came for the convicts, when the management of Skye Bank petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over their fraudulent activities. They were operating as a syndicate of fraudsters, who specialized in stealing bankers' identity, to enable them effect fraudulent wire transfers from unsuspecting and well-funded customers' account. They contacted some staff of the bank to join the syndicate. However, the staff members informed the bank and were asked to play along. They were later arrested by operatives of the EFCC.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
22nd December, 2014
