Ex- Bankers Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Deceased Customer’s Funds

 

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended two former bankers, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute, for their alleged involvement in misappropriating funds belonging to a deceased customer.

The arrests were carried out by the EFCC’s Markurdi Zonal Command in Makurdi, Benue State.

According to the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the suspects were detained following accusations of unlawfully withdrawing N4,199,500 from the account of Emmanuel Azer Agenna, who is deceased.

“Their arrest followed a petition against them by the bank on fraudulent debits on a deceased customer, Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account,” Oyewale stated in a release on Saturday.

The investigation was triggered when the family of the deceased sought clarity on the balance in Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account, in preparation for probate proceedings.

Suspicions arose when discrepancies were noted between the amount disclosed by the bank and what the family expected. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the bank regarding unauthorized transactions on the account.

Further scrutiny by the bank revealed that a debit card had been issued in the deceased customer’s name on May 10, 2023, by Idah Ogoh, a Sales and Service Associate at the bank.

This issuance was reportedly sanctioned by the bank on the same day. Investigations indicated that the card was later transferred to Agbo Okwute, another Sales and Service Associate, who allegedly passed it on to an accomplice.

It is alleged that the accomplice then used the card for multiple withdrawals from the deceased customer’s account.

The EFCC has indicated that the suspects will face charges in court following the completion of their investigation.