Nwachukwu Placidus, a former manager at First City Monument Bank, has been handed a staggering 121-year prison term by Justice S. N. Odili of the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha.
Placidus was convicted for embezzling N112,100,000 from a customer’s fixed deposit account for personal use.
Facing 16 charges including forgery and stealing, Placidus was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Command, on March 27, 2018.
Despite pleading not guilty, Placidus was found guilty after a thorough trial where the EFCC presented compelling evidence.
Justice Odili delivered the verdict, sentencing Placidus to various prison terms, with a directive to repay the stolen sum to the victim, Idemili Microfinance Bank.
“Justice S. N. Odili of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, has convicted and sentenced a former manager with First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Onitsha branch, Nwachukwu Placidus, to a cumulative 121 years imprisonment for diverting fixed deposit funds of a customer to the tune of N112,100,000 for his personal use.
“In the course of trial, the EFCC, through its counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu presented four witnesses and tendered several relevant documents which were admitted in evidence.
“Justice Odili held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the convict to nine years imprisonment on count 3, 4 years on count 4 and 9 years on counts 5 to 16 respectively but was discharged on counts 1 and 2. The sentences shall run concurrently.
“The court further ordered the convict to restitute the said sum to his victim, Idemili Microfinance Bank,” a statement posted by the anti-graft agency on its Facebook page reads.
