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A former Branch Manager of one of Ecobank, Victor Amushie, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and his former employers before the Federal High Court, Benin, and Enugu state High Court for illegal arrest and detention over alleged fraud of N81 million.
Amushie, who was reportedly arrested and detained by the EFCC last year following a petition from the bank, is demanding N1.5 billion from the defendants, claiming that his arrest and detention last year was not only a humiliation but also greatly damaged his banking career of over 16 years.
The EFCC had in a statement by its Head of Media, Wilson Uwugiaren claimed that Amushie allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he shared the proceeds.
Amushie, who was reportedly arrested and detained by the EFCC last year following a petition from the bank, is demanding N1.5 billion from the defendants, claiming that his arrest and detention last year was not only a humiliation but also greatly damaged his banking career of over 16 years.
The EFCC had in a statement by its Head of Media, Wilson Uwugiaren claimed that Amushie allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he shared the proceeds.
Details of the loan disbursement showed that he granted a total sum of N57, 979, 024.07 to Onezh Oil and Gas Limited; N11, 317, 562.73to Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 to Ogochukwu Amanda.
But in a writ of summons deposed at the Enugu High Court, where he is demanding for a one billion naira damages, Amushie not only denied committing the alleged fraud but also noted that the entire scenario was merely an attempt "to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it".
He alleged that the bank had without any investigation, or requesting any statements from him over the loan duly granted by the bank, brought the police who came in the bank's official car in Akpakpava branch in Benin City, arrested him and detained him in a cell at Esigie police station from the 11th day of August, 2014 to the 13th day of August, 2014 without asking him to make any statement whatsoever or granting him access to his lawyer or family and friends.
But in a writ of summons deposed at the Enugu High Court, where he is demanding for a one billion naira damages, Amushie not only denied committing the alleged fraud but also noted that the entire scenario was merely an attempt "to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it".
He alleged that the bank had without any investigation, or requesting any statements from him over the loan duly granted by the bank, brought the police who came in the bank's official car in Akpakpava branch in Benin City, arrested him and detained him in a cell at Esigie police station from the 11th day of August, 2014 to the 13th day of August, 2014 without asking him to make any statement whatsoever or granting him access to his lawyer or family and friends.
The suit further states that on the 13th day of August 2014, the bank brought officers of the EFCC to Esigie Police Division who took him to EFCC office in Lagos.
"It was only at the EFCC office in Lagos on the fourth day of his arrest that he was shown a petition written by the bank. The Head, media and Publicity of the EFCC, relying on the false accusation/petition and on false details provided by ECOBANK had published on their website that Victor Amushie had granted loan to himself using several names and accounts to the tune of N81m.
"It was only at the EFCC office in Lagos on the fourth day of his arrest that he was shown a petition written by the bank. The Head, media and Publicity of the EFCC, relying on the false accusation/petition and on false details provided by ECOBANK had published on their website that Victor Amushie had granted loan to himself using several names and accounts to the tune of N81m.
"The loans were actually approved and granted following all the due processes of the bank from the Head office of the bank. The petition ECOBANK wrote to EFCC further alleged that Victor was on his way out of the country while he was at work on his desk at the time of his arrest," the writ of summons said.
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