As investigation into the alleged N16 billion fraud in the defunct Intercontinental Bank continued, the police at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), have invited the former managing director of the bank, Mr Erastus Akingbola. Also invited was a top director with one of the leading banks in the country (name withheld).
A former managing director of Intercontinental Bank, Mahmud Lai Alabi who took over from Akingbola was on Wednesday arrested by the police for questioning over alleged N16 billion fraud. He was still in custody as at press time.
A senior police investigator at SFU, who spoke to Daily Sun yesterday said Akingbola had been invited to assist in the investigation of the alleged fraud.
According to him, Akingbola had received the police invitation and promised to honour the invitation. “Any moment from now, he will be here.”
The police officer hinted that another top executive of a new generation bank had also been invited in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged fraud.
The source said: “It is part of our investigation. It is a routine exercise to invite and interrogate those believed to be in the know of whatever that transpired in any allegation relating to fraud.”
He explained that, with the preliminary investigation so far, there was hope that the mystery behind the missing fund would soon be uncovered.
According to him, Mr. Akingbola was invited to assist in the investigation of Alabi. “We are bent on getting to the root of the matter and that is why we are still holding Mr. Alabi to continue to assist us.” When Daily Sun spoke with the Commissioner of Police in charge of SFU, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, he confirmed that Mr. Alabi was still in their custody but declined to comment on the invitation of Akingbola and another bank executive.
He said: “The case is under investigation. Our duty is to conduct discreet investigation to discover the truth in the matter. We can invite anybody fingered in the fraud or that can assist in the investigation.” According to him, that the police invited anyone to assist in investigation did not mean that the person would be detained.
Lai Alabi was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly writing off a loan of N9 billion and for also granting another N7 billion loan without collateral.
No comments:
Post a Comment