DEPOSITORS BEWARE! DIAMOND BANK NOW SAFE HAVEN FOR FRAUDULENT OFFICIALS - Details of How The Bank Allegedly Stole Customer’s N5M

Diamond Bank MD, Alex Oti

An Abuja-based firm has dragged Diamond Bank Nigeria Plc to an Abuja High Court asking to be awarded N310 million being special and exemplary damages against the bank for illegally tampering with its accounts and stealing of N5 million. The court, presided over by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, recently, granted the application brought by the plaintiff through its counsel, Sunny Uche, to serve the bank the court processes through substituted means out of jurisdiction. The matter is adjourned to June 26 for hearing. The plaintiff, through its counsel, Uche, in its statement of claims, averred that on or about July 18, 2012, the plaintiff, through its Managing Director, Mr. Odofin, went to the defendant’s (Diamond Bank) Kubwa branch to withdraw some money to pay the staff, buy building materials, meet other expenses in the execution of a contract it has, and particularly to meet the demands of customers, some of whom have paid money for the supply of blocks and other building materials. The cheque it presented was returned on the ground that it has insufficient funds in the account. The plaintiff said: “I was indeed surprised and aghast at this, as I am very sure that we had enough money to cover the amount on the cheque presented. I therefore requested for the statement of the said current account with number 0018800848. The defendant told the plaintiff to formally apply, which the plaintiff did on July 19, 2012. The defendant was surprisingly reluctant and unwilling to give the statement of account as it failed to do so throughout the 19th and much of 20th July, 2012. It took the plaintiff’s Managing Director’s insistence of not leaving the bank for the said statement of account to be given him towards the close of work.” The plaintiff further averred that it discovered from the statement that just some days previously, large sums of money were removed and withdrawn from the said account, which removal it did not authorise or knew about whatsoever. “The plaintiff states that precisely on July 11, 2012, the sum of N2,850,000 was removed or withdrawn purportedly by one Olusola Fagunwa from the said account without the plaintiff’s authorisation, mandate or consent. Also on July 16, 2012, another N2 million was removed by the same Olusola Fagunwa, also without the plaintiff’s consent. The plaintiff declared that it did not issue any cheque to any Olusola Fagunwa and that it does not know and has not in any way had dealings with any person by that name whatsoever. The plaintiff averred that when it noticed the removals, it made a complaint to the defendant at its Kubwa branch, where the account is resident and where the withdrawals were made. Following the refusal of the defendant to do anything about the illegal, unauthorised withdrawals and illegal debits, it reported the case to the police at Kubwa, which investigated the matter.

Similarly, two workers of the Bank PLC, Okoh Ebele and Charles Amadi, were on recently arraigned before a Karu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly forging the signatures of four customers.

The accused persons in their unprofessional conduct withdrew N250,000 from one of the customer’s account.

Prosecutor Garba Mohammed told the court that the accused were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by servant, forgery and theft.

Mohammed said that one Anthony Anaolu, a worker with Diamond Bank PLC, Area 11, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station.

“The accused conspired among themselves and revealed the signatures of four different customers operating different accounts in the same bank.

“They scanned the signatures and sent to one Charles, whose surname is still unknown and now at-large, with the intention to withdraw the customer’s money deposited with the bank.

“In the course of their actions, they succeeded in withdrawing the sum of N250,000 from the account of one L.A Mittee, through one Amarachi Joshia, of Wuse Zone 5, Abuja,’’ he said.

Joshia is presently also standing trial for alleged theft in the same court.

He said that during police investigation, the accused persons admitted committing the offence.

GlaxoSmithKline in $3bn fraud scandal

Global healthcare and pharmaceuticals company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has pleaded guilty to promoting two drugs for unapproved uses and also failing to report safety data about a diabetes drug to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The case concerns the drugs Paxil (paroxetine), an antidepressant; Wellbutrin, a typical antidepressant and smoking cessation aid and Avandia, medication for the treatment of type II diabetes.

GSK will pay the sum of $3bn, which includes a $1bn criminal fine and forfeiture and $2bn to resolve civil settlements with the federal and state governments. This is the largest healthcare fraud settlement in US history.

Deputy Attorney General, James Cole, speaking in Washington, DC said that the settlement was "unprecedented in both size and scope".

"Let me be clear, we will not tolerate health care fraud," Cole said.

Prosecutors said that GSK illegally promoted Paxil for treating depression in children from 1998 to 2003, even though it was not approved for anyone under age 18.
 

The company also promoted Wellbutrin from 1999 through 2003 for weight loss, sexual dysfunction, substance addictions and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, although it was only approved for treatment of major depression.

The company also conceded charges that it held back data and made unsupported safety claims over its diabetes drug Avandia.

"The sales force bribed physicians to prescribe GSK products using every imaginable form of high-priced entertainment, from Hawaiian vacations to paying doctors millions of dollars to go on speaking tours, and even tickets to Madonna concerts," said US attorney Carmin Ortiz.

As part of the settlement, GSK agreed to be monitored by government officials for five years to ensure that it complies with marketing and other rules. GSK, in a statement, said it would pay the fines through existing cash resources.

Andrew Witty, the chief executive, said procedures for compliance, marketing and selling had been changed at GSK's US unit.

"We have learnt from the mistakes that were made. When necessary, we have removed employees who have engaged in misconduct," Witty said.

Niger Delta Power Holding Limited And Dud Cheque

 

In its 2013 Global Corruption Barometer which surveyed residents in 107 countries, TI ranked Nigeria the 8th most corrupt country in the world. The recent corruption report by the anti-corruption agency, Transparency International (TI) placing Nigeria as the 8th most corrupt country in the world is serious enough for our policy makers and other stakeholders not to bat an eyelid. Recent developments in Nigeria could not have produced antithesis. One of such nagging albatrosses which is threatening to rock the fragile confidence in the financial and investment thrust in the country is the issue of increasing dud cheques recorded in the banks.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that over 167,507 dud cheques, with total value of N166 billion were processed by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) between January and December 2012. Nigeria is still engaged in a battle to exit from the dishonorable list of those countries which are accused of not doing enough to curb money laundering, corruption and terrorism that is why I got angry when I was issued a dud cheque by  NDPH (Niger Delta Power Holding Limited)
I am  from Mmahu-Egbema of the Ohaji/Egbema LGA in Imo State of Nigeria. As part of the National Integrated Power Project, Rockson Engineering is carrying out the engineering, procurement and construction of a 378MW gas turbine power station in Mmahu-Egbema for NDPH . The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was conceived in 2004 as a fast-track government funded initiative to stabilize Nigeria’s electricity supply system.   NIPP was originally designed around seven medium sized gas fired power stations in the gas producing states, and the critical transmission infrastructure needed to evacuate the added power into the national grid. A commitment to electrify host communities in the vicinity of the power stations and major substations gave rise to the distribution component of the project. Niger Delta Power Holding Limited is in charge of  the Egbema power station. Egbema Power Plant Project was conceived as a simple cycle power plant with 3 Gas Turbines having the generating capacity of 112.8 Mega Watts of electricity and a combined generating capacity of 338MW of electricity into the national grid.
I am one of the landlords of the Egbema Power Plant.  My parents  planted cassava, maize and yams on my kindred farmland. My kindred farmland is my parent’s means of livelihood. It was painful when my parent’s means of livelihood was damaged by Niger Delta Power Holding Limited and Rockson Engineering in course of building the Power Plant in our farm land. We cannot deny our community a huge development by rejecting the NIPP project. NDPH agreed to pay compensation to us for our damaged crops and damaged trees and in year 2009 NDPH under NIPP did the assessment of damaged crops and trees on our farmland.
In August 2013, four years after the assessment ,NDPH  called us to Owerri where I was  issued a  Zenith bank Managers cheque with  Account Number  1030003807 Cheque number 07434402  as compensation for my damaged crops and trees. Guess how much is on the cheque ….. fourty two thousand four hundred and fourty four naira (N42,444). My God! What a ridiculous compensation for my damaged crops and trees. The worst of it all is that this cheque  turned out to be a dud one. I went to Zenith Bank Omoku Branch in Rivers State in the same August 2013 and the cashier at the counter told me that  they  cannot honour  the cheque for there were issues with NDPH account. I asked the type of issues but the cashier refused to speak further. Otio!  I climbed upstairs to talk with the Operations Manager of the bank and  he  gave me the  issue excuse too  but chipped in that NDPH  has no money in the account yet and told me sorry, we can’t pay you…go back to NDPH.
My God! Dud Cheque! A dud cheque is a cheque that is written for more than the amount in the issuer’s bank account e.g. a cheque for N200 when the person only has N150 in his bank account. The actions of dud cheques issuers are beginning to adversely affect the ‘cash-lite’ policy currently at the pilot stage in some Nigerian states. Dud cheques issuance, which  is on the increase, results in low confidence in the acceptance of cheques, one of the key elements of the ‘cash-lite’ policy. NDPH ought to have made sure that their accounts are funded before issuing a cheque to a third party.
The provisions of the Dishonoured/Dud Cheques Act make it an offence for any person anywhere in Nigeria to induce the delivery of any property or to purport to settle a lawful obligation by means of a cheque which when presented is dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the drawer of the cheque, and for matters connected therewith. I condemn in strong terms this dud cheque issued to me by NDPH. I see this action as insensitive and utterly inhuman. I demand an open apology from  the management NDPH and I demand for adequate compensation for the destruction of my farmland and for Mmahu people.
Imagine my farmland destroyed and I was paid just N42,444 .NDPH with this ridiculous compensation has  put more excruciating burden and poverty on Mmahu mothers  and fathers  who have been daily subjected to untold hardship by various anti-poor policies of the federal government. Let no one be deceived, the damaged Mmahu farms , like others, have  wrecked incalculable havoc on the living standard of the poor working  people of Mmahu who are farmers . Like we know, lack of farms to cultivate has  instantly hike up the cost of  food in Mmahu  without corresponding increment in income of the people . This pro-capitalist and counter-productive policy of NDPH  has  yielded a harvest of hunger , high waves of crimes and  prostitution in our land.
I have scanned and attached the cheque issued to me. I hereby  call on the various government agencies to investigate the  compensation  for damaged crops and trees by NDPH  in Mmahu-Egbema  so as to unearth the stinking smell coming out from there. This  NDPH neo-liberal policy in Mmahu must not be treated as an isolated or incidental occurrence but rather as a manifestation of the pro-rich, and anti-poor agenda of  some capitalist thieving  vampires in NDPH  who wants Mmahu to be in mass poverty in the midst of abundance. We say No to this .Dare to fight, dare to win.
-Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State,Nigeria

BREAKING NEWS: Dead Prophet Ajanaku Resurrects from Mortuary

Unconfirmed report reaching Hi People Magazine says that Pastor Ajanaku that was declared dead from his sleep on Sunday evening has returned back to life. The questionable Prophet’s demise shocked the whole of Lagos State and of course everyone who has ever heard of him. The rumour that went wild was that he had an over-dose of medicine and that caused about his death.

Medical facility sources uncovered that while efforts were being made to prep him for morgue, the Prophet, that has declined to pass away, shouted and woke up ‘Thank You Jesus!’

The Prophet’s wife, was yesterday telling sympathisers that “I knew daddy would come back to life again.” But as he lay motionless in death throughout yesterday, they wife was more scared, doubting if the Prophet will awake again or not.

The prophet is still in the hospital, as elders of the church, are insisting that the prophet should be left till Friday, believing that he would have come back fully to life.

President Jonathan's Moves To Settle With Amaechi

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has initiated moves to settle scores with Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State governor.

For sometime now, there has been a rift between Mr. President and Amaechi. Mrs. Patience Jonathan also confessed a few weeks ago that the Rivers State governor offended her about four years ago, a reason she has been calling for his head.

However, one of the reasons Jonathan has made latest move to reconcile with Amaechi is to strengthen his 2015 chances.

"The eventual registration of APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has also put the President under more pressure. So he's desperate to make more friends now than enemies," an Aso Rock source told Global Village Extra.

Our source added that Mrs. Patience Jonathan has also been advised to end her feud with Amaechi.

"She may not apologise directly, but I'm optimistic that very soon, she will find a way to settle her differences with Amaechi," our source concluded.

Nollywood Actor, Chidi Mokeme In Fresh Paternity Mess ...As controversial birth wrecks lover, Habiba Abubakar's marriage.

Actor Chidi Mokeme is in a fresh paternity mess.

The dresser forced to accept responsibility for one of his love babies, Daniel solo at age 11 a not long ago has a new case to answer for.

He is accused of impregnating and refusing to accept the product of his alleged illicit affair with married woman, Habiba Abubarka.

Insiders revealed this is even after news of the birth resulted in the millionaire hubby of his lover divorcing her. And taking over the 3 children the marriage produced.

Sources confirmed Habiba gave birth for Chidi Mokeme about 2 weeks ago in Saudi Arabia. And the baby named Chukwudi Mokeme.

Her attempts to make hidden lover and baby father Mokeme accept paternity are said to have been vehemently rebuffed.

He doesn't want to have anything to do with her again- resorting to phone messages and e-mails to relate with his baby mama turned estranged lover.

Insiders revealed the actor constantly linked with older and wealthy women also adopted the extra ploy of threats to release 'X-rated pictures , mails, and intimate texts messages' to discredit the alleged mother of his child and embarrass her and her children as part of move to create further distance between them.

He is said to be relying on the additional advantage of an interview by Habiba denying intimate relationship between the two of them not too long ago.

Friends of Habiba claimed the embattled baby mama did this to protect her marriage back then- and Chidi's image as well.

This was reportedly at a period they were having the affair under Mokeme's guise of helping Habiba recover about N15m swindled off her by fellow actor, Jim Iyke.

Insiders revealed with the collapse of her marriage staring her in the face, and 'loss' of her three children also thrown into the equation, Habiba is not taking any of that.

Sources claim she is currently exploring all means possible to make Mokeme accept paternity and live up to his responsibilities- especially to avoid the baby growing up with a ' whose the father's shroud over him'.

Part of the move is labelled 'plan to recant her romance denial interview and tell it as it is'

Opinions are however divided on the effectiveness of this move- with some looking forward to a fight that is as messy as it was intimate.

Source - SocietyNow.