2 bankers arrested and imprisoned in Uyo for stealing from the Dead People

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Uyo Zonal Command has secured the conviction of two bank officials, Daniel Akpan Eno and Mbuk Idongesit, before Justice Edem Ita Kufre of the Cross River State High Court in Calabar, for conspiracy and theft of funds in the account of a deceased commercial bank customer.

On Wednesday, August 4, 2021, the two were found guilty after pleading guilty to separate one-count charges of criminal conspiracy and fraudulent transfers. Victor John Okon, a third defendant and alleged accomplice, pleaded “not guilty.” His trial was postponed until August 10, 2021, to allow for the review of his bail application.

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Justice Kufre found Akpan guilty and sentenced him to three months in prison plus a fine of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00), while Idongesit was sentenced to three months in prison plus a fine of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00).

The convicts’ journey to prison began on May 23, 2021, when Idongesit (along with one Utibe George- currently at large) approached Akpan with a plot to steal from the deceased’s account and the burial program of one Godfried Godwin Osso, a deceased customer of the Bank, whom George (at large) claimed was his step-father.

On May 24, 2021, George completed the deal with the convicts and also contacted a Teller (Victor Okon – the third defendant) from another bank branch to facilitate access to the deceased’s funds. The conspirators came to an agreement on a 50/50 split and the plot was carried out.

Following a bank petition alleging suspicious dissipation of funds in the deceased account into the accounts of family members and acquaintances, where they were diverted to personal use, the commission stepped in.

Victor Okon conspired with George Ifiok Utibe (at large) on June 19, 2019 and received the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira, according to the investigation (N1, 500, 000.00). Daniel Akpan received one million and forty thousand naira (N1, 040,000.00), while Godwin Mbuk only received one hundred and thirty thousand naira (N130, 000.00).

The convicts were remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Facility until their fines were paid, while Victor was remanded in the Commission’s detention facility until his bail application was heard.