FCMB manager arrested by EFCC over N55 million fraud

Barely one year now, one Adebayo Ayokunle a former First City Monument Bank, FCMB manager was arrested and charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly withdrawing the sum of N30million from his employer’s account and converted it to his use just one year after he secured the job and escaped.

The 29 years old former FCMB manager was attached to the E-Settlement Unit of the Bank, Akoka branch, Lagos and this was discovered when the Management of the Bank audited the account of the Akoka branch and uncovered the fraud and reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Lion Building Division, Lagos Island, Lagos.

EFCC again has arraigned one Kichime Gomwalk, a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch manager, with two others on a five-count charge bordering on stealing, cheating and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N55 million fraud.

Gomwalk was arraigned before Justice P. S. Gang of the Plateau State High Court Jos on Tuesday alongside Michael Damkas Buayam of Tan Global Energy Limited and Abbas Andrew Dayilim of Castlegate International Limited.

Gomwalk, while serving as branch manager of FCMB Plc, Murtala Mohammed Way Jos, in Plateau State allegedly forged a COCIN GRATUITY CERTIFICATE OF PLEDGE/LETTER OF SET-OFF dated 30th DECEMBER, 2019.

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The letter was purportedly co-signed by Mrs Monica Bitrus Tang and Rev (Dr.) Amos Musa Mohzo, Directors after which it was used to secure an overdraft from FCMB Plc to the tune of N55, 000.000.00 with COCIN Gratuity account N0. 100GOMWALK379 domiciled with FCMB Plc.

Gomwalk, while serving as branch manager, FCMB Plc, Murtala Mohammed Way Jos, in Plateau State is alleged to have forged a COCIN GRATUITY CERTIFICATE OF PLEDGE/LETTER OF SET-OFF dated 30th DECEMBER, 2019, purportedly co-signed by Mrs Monica Bitrus Tang and Rev (Dr.) Amos Musa Mohzo, Directors, which he used to secure an overdraft facility from FCMB Plc to the tune of N55, 000.000.00 (Fifty-Five Million Naira) with COCIN Gratuity account N0. 100GOMWALK379 domiciled with FCMB Plc,” the EFCC said in a statement on Wednesday.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Uwaise Yusuf, urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial.

Oreoluwa Ojelabi

Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.