EFCC: 16 Witnesses To Testify Against Ex-Onitsha Ecobank Manager Arraigned For N50m Fraud

Jossy Honnah, former Onitsha branch manager of Ecobank Nig. Ltd, has been arraigned by the Enugu zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged fraud.

Honnah is accused of stealing, altering, forgery and defrauding a customer, Chief Vincent Okparaku, and his company, Vicyntel Nigeria Ltd, the sum of N50, 315, 780 (fifty million, three hundred and fifteen thousand, seven hundred and eighty naira) between August 2013 and June 2016.

In a twenty-count charge Suit N0: 0/11c/2021 preferred against Honnah and Ecobank, prepared by Ajobiewe Rotimi Enitan of EFCC, on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria as the complainant, 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.

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.”

EFCC, in the charge sheet, also listed 19 witnesses and 16 exhibits as proofs of evidences against the duo.

During mention of the case, Ecobank and Honnah pleaded not guilty to the charges while the presiding judge, Justice. S, N. Odili, of Onitsha High Court, adjourned the matter to 15/9/21 and 16/9/21 for hearing.

The arraignment of Ecobank and Mr Honnah was sequel to a petition written by Chibueze Oguchienti, counsel to Chief Okparaku and Vicyntel Enterprises, since 2016 where it detailed various fraudulent practices allegedly committed by Honnah in the account of Vicyntel Enterprises, a major dealer in many communications networks in Nigeria domiciled with Ecobank.