Anidiobi, who was granted pardon by the Enugu State Governor on December 31, 2024, had filed the suit to recover properties acquired with the proceeds of the crime, which were ordered to be attached and sold to compensate the bank.
An Enugu State High Court on Monday, struck out a suit filed by Oliver Anidiobi, a former Manager of Sterling Bank Plc, who was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for forgery and stealing N219 million from Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited.
Anidiobi, who was granted pardon by the Enugu State Governor on December 31, 2024, had filed the suit to recover properties acquired with the proceeds of the crime, which were ordered to be attached and sold to compensate the bank.
The suit No.E /911M/2025, had Oliver Anidiobi as the plaintiff while the Federal Republic Of Nigeria; Economic and financial crimes commission; Ohha microfinance bank ltd; The Attorney General & Commissioner For Justice Enugu State; The Chairman Prerogative Of Mercy Ministry Of Justice; and The Chief Registrar High Court Enugu were sued as 1st to 6th Respondents.
SaharaReporters reports that as then Branch Manager of Sterling Bank Plc, he stole the sum of N219 million deposited for Fixed Deposit by Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited in his branch bank under his direct supervision.
Following the refusal to refund the money, Ohaa Bank petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Upon investigation, Anidiobi was found culpable.
Subsequently, the anti-graft agency arraigned Anidiobi on 7th May 2019, before an Enugu State High Court in Charge NO: E/162C/19, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS. ANIDIOBI OLIVER CHUWUKA.
At the conclusion of the trial, the Honorable Court presided over by Justice Cyprian Ajah, delivered its’ judgment on 2nd November 2021. The court convicted and sentenced the accused (Anidiobi) to 8years imprisonment. The court ordered that the three properties which he acquired with the proceeds of the crimes be attached and sold and the proceeds be paid to Ohha Microfinance Bank Ltd.
The convict subsequently filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division. On the 13th September 2023, the appellate court unanimously upheld the judgement of the High Court which convicted him.
After spending three years in prison, on December 2024, in exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, granted him pardon.
Few months after he was pardoned, the ex-convict filed a suit to recover some of the properties he acquired through the proceeds of crime, which were ordered by the court to be attached and sold and the proceeds paid to Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited, the nominal Complainant he duped of N219million.
However, at the resume hearing on Monday, his Counsel, C.F. Oziri (Mss), applied to withdraw the suit.
The counsels for the Respondents – Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited, Olu Omotayo Esq; EFCC, Michael Ani, and and D.C. Odugu, for the Attorney General of Enugu State didn’t oppose the withdrawal.
Ruling on the application, the presiding judge, Justice Cyprian Ajah, held that in view of no objection by the respondents to the withdrawal, “the suit is hereby struck out accordingly.”