The Anambra State High Court, sitting in Onitsha, has sentenced a former manager with First City Monument Bank,  FCMB, Onitsha branch, Placidus Nwachukwu, to a total of 121 years in prison for diverting fixed deposit N112 million of a customer to his personal use.

The court presided over by Justice S. N. Odili sentenced Nwachukwu to a cumulative of the 121 years after finding him guilty of the charges preferred against him.

The convict was arraigned on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 on 16-count charges bordering on forgery, stealing, obtaining by false pretence and alterations, by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the counts read that, “Nwachukwu Placidus between February 2009 and November 2014 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Anambra State High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained N112.1 million from Idemili Microfinance Bank under the false pretence that you have placed the said money in a fixed deposit account with First City Monument Bank PLC for it, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence”.
 He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him, thus  setting the stage for his trial.
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.
In his judgment,  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. 

Nwachukwu, was, however, 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.
Nwachukwu's journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner ,  Idemili Microfinance Bank Ltd, alleged that the N112. 1 million handed over to him as the branch manager of FCMB in Onitsha, for fixed deposit. However,  when the petitioner approached the bank  to terminate  and withdraw the deposit, the bank denied receiving the said funds.

Upon receipt of the petition, the EFCC swung into action and investigations revealed that the convict diverted the money for his own use and issued  a fake fixed Deposit Certificate to the petitioner.