By Mackie M. Jalloh
During hearing on an alleged fraudulent Conversion matter involving an ECOBANK staff, Almira Abdullah, who was arraigned before Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker of Court No 2 on Pademba Road, Freetown, Head of Internal Control Ecobank, Albert Okyere, on Wednesday 9 November 2022, took the witness stand and told the court about investigations mounted by his unit after the alarm was raised.
The witness, Albert Okyere, recognized the accused, Almira Abdullah, who he identified as one of their staff at Ecobank branch Lunsar, and recalled the events of 3rd May 2019 and 28th May 2020. He explained that on 18th April 2020, the Head of Finance, Raymond Koroma, sent an email to him informing him about some customers’ complaints about the Lunsar branch, where accounts have been tampered with, and requested to get his team to investigate and to validate same. The witness further that he led the investigation, where he confirmed that some customers went to Ecobank branch at Lunsar to deposit several sums of money into their accounts. Their investigations discovered that all the customers said they gave their monies to the accused, Almira Abdullah, adding that during their investigation, they were able to confirm that the customers had accounts with the bank and that the accused never credited their accounts when they handed over their cash to her for deposit into their accounts.
He furthered that he engaged the accused on phone on the matter and she told him that indeed she took the monies from the customers to credit their accounts. He further asked the accused what she did with the money, and the accused told him that she lavished the money. He then invited the accused to the Head Office, and when she came, she confessed and confirmed that she took the money from the different customers. He then furthered that he engaged with the Heads of the bank and explained to them what the accused told him. He then concluded his investigation and handed over the accused to the management of Ecobank, and presented an internal report to the management, which was tendered in Court and marked exhibit C1-9. The witness then told the court that he later made a statement to the Police.
After the testimony of the witness (PW2), he was cross examined by Abu Bakarr Koroma Esq. No bail was granted to the accused, and she was remanded in custody until the 16th November 2022. ASP Dalia Wellington Esq.and ASP Hawa Bah are Prosecuting the matter.
