Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director Of Access Bank is in hot soup. He and a top management staff of the bank, Mrs. Neka Adogu were arraigned on Thursday December 7th, 2017 at the Abuja High Court in the Federal Capital Territory over criminal related issues.
The Senior Legal Officer, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offence Commission, (ICPC), Osuobeni Ekpiwhre Akponimisingh arraigned the trio on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation, with charge number CR/032/17 over their refusal to obey lawful invitation by the Commission on the refusal of the bank to release the Post No Debit order on all the accounts of two firms, Blaid Construction Limited and Braid Properties Limited.
The charge sheet read that the Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Access Bank Plc and Mrs. Neka Adogu who are the defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge.
“That you, Herbert Wigwe (Mr) MD/CEO of Access Bank, sometimes in the month of November 2017 or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this honourable court wilfully refused to honour a lawful invitation by the ICPC in respect of refusal to release the Post Debit order on all the accounts of Blaid Construction Limited and Blaid Properties Limited respectively, upon receipt of an order directing you and your bank (Access Bank plc) to do so, you thereby committed an offender contrary to and punishable under Section 28 (10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
“That you Neka Adogu, (Mrs), a staff of Access Bank, sometimes in the month of November 2017 or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this honourable court willfully refused to honor a lawful invitation by the ICPC in respect of refusal to release the Post Debit order on all the accounts of Blaid Construction Limited and Blaid Properties Limited respectively, upon receipt of an order directing you and your bank (Access Bank plc) to do so, you thereby committed an offender contrary to and punishable under Section 28 (10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
“That you Herbert Wigwe (Mr) MD/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mrs. Neka Adogu, a staff of Access Bank, and Access Bank Plc, sometimes in the month of November 2017 or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to frustrate investigation activities of the commission (ICPC) by willfully refused to obey a lawful order dated November 6, 2017, instructing you and your bank (Access Bank Plc) to release the Post Debit order on all the accounts of Blaid Construction Limited and Blaid Properties Limited respectively, and you thereby committed an offender contrary to Section 26 (c) and punishable under Section 15 (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
“That you Herbert Wigwe (Mr.) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc, sometimes in the month of November 2017 or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to willfully refused to obey a lawful order dated November 06, 2017, but delivered/recieved on November 07, 2017, instructing you and your bank (Access Bank Plc) to release the Post Debit order on all the accounts of Blaid Construction Limited and Blaid Properties Limited respectively, and you thereby committed an offender contrary to Section 26 (c) and punishable under Section 28 (10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”