New Charges: EFCC Declares Atuche, Akingbola’s Wife, Wanted Over N56b Fraud

Posted: May 13, 2011 - 17:07

Posted by siteadmin

caption: Ugo Ayanwu

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today declared the former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche and Mrs. Anthonia Akingbola, wife of the detained former Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank , Mr. Erastus Akingbola, wanted over new charges relating to the theft of over N56 billion  depositors funds in the two banks.

  
Also wanted in connection with the stealing of depositors’ funds from Bank PHB is the bank’s former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu.
In a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, the Commission explained that while Messers Francis Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu are wanted in connection with the stealing of over N8.6 billion form Bank PHB, Mrs. Akingbola is wanted over her alleged conspiracy with her husband, Erastus Akingbola, to steal over N47 billion from Intercontinental Bank.
The agency said it had to come to the decision to declare the accused persons wanted following an endless search for them and their failure to submit themselves for interrogation and trial over the alleged offences.
According to the statement, “Patriotic Nigerians who may have useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted persons are urged to kindly send same to any of the EFCC’s offices across the country or the nearest police station.”
The Commission further said that while it will continue its search for the accused persons within the country, it will equally explore its working relationship with other international law enforcement agencies to track down any of them hiding in foreign jurisdictions.
“We wish to state emphatically that contrary to the allegations of double jeopardy, arm twisting and witch hunting by some of the accused persons, the fresh charges against them are distinct from those of money laundering and fraudulent manipulation of bank records over which they are facing trial at the Federal high Court in Ikoyi Lagos. They are facing fresh charges of stealing depositors funds which is a predicate offence”, the statement added.  

Atuche and Wife

A court in the United Kingdom last month ordered Mr. Akingbola to forfeit nearly seventy-five million British pounds to Intercontinental Bank, his former employers.
Mr. Akingbola, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was trying to negotiate some deals in Nigeria to save his neck and keep most of the money when he was re- arrested in Lagos on May 2.  An EFCC source told SaharaReporters on May 4 of the Commission’s determination to ensure that the rogue banker was sent to jail for the massive graft he had committed at InterContinental Bank. Mrs. Akingbola has been hiding in the UK since she was invited for interrogation by the EFCC.
On May 4, ChannelsTV also reported on its website the arrest by the EFCC of Mrs. Elizabeth Atuche, the spouse of Francis Atuche; and Mr. Bayo Dada, an associate of Mr. Erastus Akingbola.
According to ChannelsTV, those arrests were confirmed by Mr. Babafemi.