Ex-bank manager re-arraigned for N179m fraud

Operatives of the Ojo Division of Lagos State Police Command have arraigned a lawyer, Adaobi Obiora, before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ojo for allegedly making false statements against one Inspector Esther Adesulu, a female resident prosecutor of the court.

Obiora was arraigned before Chief Magistrate M. A. Alade, on a two-count charge of giving false information and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

The prosecutor, Dr. S. Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 1, within the court’s premises.

He noted that while the court was in session, the defendant gave false statement that Inspector Adesulu collected N200,000 from one Clara Onyeagba, a statement which he knew to be untrue.

The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant’s act was capable of causing breach of peace.

According to the prosecutor, her offences were contrary to the provision of Sections Section 96(B) and 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015, and punishable under the same laws.

Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty to the charge, the court granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Magistrate Alade ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must provide evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

The court subsequently adjourned till August 14, for trial but released the defendant to a member of the Badagry branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Meanwhile, a former bank manager, Fidelis Egueke, has been re-arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, for alleged N179 million fraud.

He was re-arraigned by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.

Egueke, who worked last with the Asaba, Delta State branch of Zenith Bank Plc, was re-arraigned for the third time on a 16 count-amended charge filed against him by the police.

His case file was reassigned due to the transfer of the two previous justices, namely: Justice Chuka Obiozor and Justice Tijani Garuba Ringim, who are currently sitting in another jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

The former bank manager allegedly resigned his appointment with the bank, after being queried on the alleged fraud.

He was first arraigned before Justice Obiozor, sometimes in November 2020, on previous two amended charge of three and later 14 counts.

His offences bordered on conspiracy, fraud, unlawful conversion, obtaining by false pretence and unauthorised withdrawal.

He was again re-arraigned before Justice Ringim on August 7, 2022, on the same count charge, when Justice Obizor was transfered out of the Lagos jurisdiction of the court.

At the resumed proceeding, the prosecutor, Mr Maruf Animashaun, informed the court of the third amended 16-count charge.

The defendant counsel, Tunde Adekoye (SAN), did not oppose his re-arraignment, but urged the court to allow his client to continue with the previous bail terms granted by the previous judges.

Upon the counsel’s submission, Justice Ogundare ordered that the charge be read to the defendant, for his plea to be taken.

Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty, his counsel, Adekoye, urged the court to allow his client to continue with the bail terms earlier granted by the court. The submission was not opposed by the prosecutor.

By the agreement of parties, Justice Ogundare, adjourned the matter till November 6 and 7, for commencement of the defendant’s trial.

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