By Kenneth Atavti
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, yesterday arrested Kingsley Ubenyi, the operator of a defunct Enugu-based wonder bank, KSLEY Mega Vision.
The accused is standing trial for alleged illegal operation of a financial institution and obtaining N84.6 million from his victims.
Ubenyi’s arrest was sequel to a bench warrant issued by Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu State, which was upheld on March 28, 2019, by Justice I.N. Buba who took over the case.
Ubenyi who did not show up for trial, had through his lawyer, John Bigwan, brought a medical report purportedly from Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, seeking leave for his continued absence in court.
The acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, explained in a statement yesterday, that the said medical report written on a seeming authentic letter-head of the hospital and signed by one Dr. Eze.C had on two different occasions indicated that the defendant was suffering from ‘acute peptic ulcerative disease and high blood pressure.’
But investigation by the Commission revealed that the said medical report was forged as the hospital authority had distanced itself from the report stating that Ubenyi was never admitted for any of the ailment mentioned in the letter.
The hospital also said that there was no Dr. Eze on its staff roll.
The letter signed by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Hyacinth Onah, further stated that the hospital data indicated the defendant had a folder number P269482, and not P26682 as was indicated in the forged medical report.
The defendant, when confronted after his arrest claimed the report was given to him by one Dr. Ugwu Joseph, a claim that was denied by the said Ugwu who said he never knew nor met him.
Ubenyi was first arraigned by EFCC on May 24, 2017 on 26 counts filed against him by the commission.
