Alleged N97m bank fraud: Fidelity bank manager, husband trial continues today

The trial of the Executive Assistant, Electronic Business unit of domestic operation of Fidelity Bank plc, Uchenna Abazu and her husband over alleged N97 million fraud continues today before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned the case till today during the last hearing.
The couple-defendants are facing a four-counts charge made against them by Mrs C M Efobi from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister.
The charge reads: “That you Uchenna Abazu “F” between the 29th day of February, 2008 and 12th day of February 2009 in your capacity as Executive Assistant, Electronic Business Unit of Domestic Operation of Fidelity bank plc located at 23, Awolowo Road ikoyi Lagos, conspired with your husband Tochukwu Phillip Abazu, to commit felony to wit: forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6)of the miscellaneous offences act cap m17 of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and in conjunction with 1(2)(a)(B) (c) of the same act.
“That you Uchenna Abazu (F) and Tochukwu Phillip Abazu your husband between 29th February, 2008 and 12th February, 2009 at Fidelity Bank plc, 23, Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos, did forge statement of account 027402010024417 belonging to Tochukwu Phillip Abazu when you Uchenna Abazu an Executive Assistant with Fidelity Bank Plc with identity card number 1705 in furtherance of your common intention made false entries into Tochukwu Phillip Abazu’s account number 027402010024417, opened with Fidelity Bank Plc on the 6th of June 2007 at 23, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos did forge statement of account 027402010024417 belonging to Tochukwu Phillip Abazu, when you Uchenna Abazu an Executive Assistant with Fidelity Bank Plc with identity card number 1705 in furtherance of your common intention made false entries into Tochukwu Phillip Abazu’s account number 027402010024417 opened with Fidelity bank Plc on the 6th of June 2007 at 23, Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos, in the sum of about N97million knowing that they were false entries which said false entries were acted upon as genuine, via eighty-two Fidelity bank Plc cheques with serial numbers 03097572 to 0397601, 00106503 to 00106542 and 01951151 to 01951161, to the prejudice of Fidelity Bank Plc and Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 1a,b,and c of the offences miscellaneous Act.
“That you Uchenna Abazu and Tochukwu Phillip Abazu between the 29th of February 2008 and 12th of February 2009 at Fidelity Bank Plc, 23, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi did conspire with one another to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of criminal code cap c38 of the law of federation of Nigeria.
“That you Uchenn Abazu and Tochukwu Phillp Abazu between 29th of February 2008 and 12th of February 2009 at Fidelity Bank Plc 23, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi did steal the sum of about N97 million belonging to Fidelity Bank Plc and the Federal Government of Nigeria with eighty-one Fidelity Bank Plc account earlier mentioned and subsequently diverted part of the said money to two accounts in commercial banks and thereafter withdrew same for your personal use and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 390 (6)and (7) of the criminal code cap c38 of the laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.”