Italian in court for scamming Zenith Bank N700m

The Special Fraud Unit on Tuesday took an Italian national, Piero
Allan Franchillo, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly
defrauding Zenith Bank Plc of over N700m.
The 56-year-old, who appeared before Justice Ibrahim Buba, was charged
with five counts bordering on conspiracy, Advanced Fee Fraud, forgery
and presenting forged documents.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs. Susan Ezema, the accused had,
between August 2013 and April 2014, obtained a sum of N717,403,475.36
from Zenith Bank Plc for the purpose of constructing Delta Mall at
Effurum, Delta State.
Franchillo was, however, said to have conspired with some persons,
still at large, to "fraudulently convert the money to his own personal
use rather than executing the project."
The SFU prosecutor added, "The accused did forge an extract of minutes
of meeting of the Board of Directors of New Technic Construction
Nigeria Limited purportedly held on August 26, 2013, accepting APG/Bid
Bond Line for enhancement of N1.5bn and overdraft renewal of N50m for
the construction of Delta Mall."
According to the prosecutor, Franchillo was able to obtain the N717m
from the bank by presenting the forged document.
Ezima told the court that the alleged offences contravene section 8
(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2010, and
sections 390 (1), 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code, Cap C.38, Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.
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But Franchillo pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The court however ordered him to be remanded in prison and adjourned
the case till February 6, 2015 to hear his application for bail filed
by his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN)
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