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Keystone Of Fraud? As Two Bank Staff Arraigned For Alleged Stealing Of Customers Multi-million Naira

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Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday granted N20 million bail to two staff members of Keystone Bank Limited, Ebele Okpala and Perpetua Onyeto, over alleged obtaining of N35 million fraudulently.Okpala and Onyeto were granted bail after their counsel argued the bail application brought before the court.The duo were arraigned on Friday, August 30, 2024, by the Police Special Fraud Unit, in Lagos over alleged fraud.Okpala and Onyeto are facing five counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and obtaining by false pretence preferred against them, by the police.The prosecution counsel who is a Chief Superintendent of Police, Eliot Ejie, told the court that the two bankers committed the offences sometime in July 2023.CSP Ejie told the court that the first defendant, Okpala, in connivance with the second defendant, Onyeto, who worked at the branch of the bank in Anambra State, fraudulently lifted a lien placed on the bank’s customer’s account and transferred the money to her account number 1000234952 domiciled in Keystone Bank.According to the prosecutor, the offences committed by the defendants, contravened Sections 1(1)(c), Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.He also told the court that the two bankers’ acts contravened Sections 516 and 383 (1) Criminal Code Act LFN 2004. And Sections 21(a) and 18 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.The case was then adjourned till Monday, for the hearing of their bail applications.At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the defendants’ counsel argued their bail applications which was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor.But Justice Dipeolu, after listening to the arguments on their bail applications, granted the two bankers bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties each in like sum.The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety, must be a Grade level 16 officer in either Lagos or Federal Government establishment.He adjourned the case till November 6, 2024, for trial.

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Crime

EFCC Arraigns Six Kwara SUBEB Officials for Alleged N96m Fraud

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The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned six officials of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB before Justice Akanbi of the State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, for fraud.They are facing prosecution on a four-count charge of breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N96 million.The defendants are, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Director, Finance and Supply; Omole Omololu John, Controller, Finance and Accounts; Fatai Oyerinde, Coordinator, Salary Unit; Mujeeb Ibrahim, Executive Officer, Account and Salary Schedule; Salami Temitope Bashir and Dauda Aweda Quozim, who are staff of the Salary Unit in the Kwara SUBEB.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim and Bashir Temitope Salami, between September 2018 and December 2018 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, being public officers in the service of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) and in such capacity entrusted with a certain property to wit; the gross sum of N33,891,982.37 (Thirty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Two Naira, Thirty-Seven Kobo) which sum formed part of the Kwara State SUBEB funds in account No: 0031236028 domiciled at Sterling Bank Plc, and you thereby committed the offence of criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”

Another charge reads: “That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim and Bashir Temitope Salami, between January 2019 and June 2019 of Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, being public officers in the service of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board and in such capacity entrusted with a certain property to wit: the gross sum of N30,406,629.09 (Thirty Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Nine Kobo) which sum formed part of the Kwara State SUBEB funds in account no: 0031236028 domiciled at Stealing Bank Plc, and you thereby Committed the offence of criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”

They pleaded “not guilty”, when the charges were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja, asked the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, while counsel to the defendants, led by Abdullahi Lawal made oral bail applications to their clients.Justice Akanbi adjourned until Wednesday, April 16, 2025 for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ilorin.

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EFCC Arraigns Lawyer over Alleged N41m Fraud in Enugu

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The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo before Justice E. N. Oluedo of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu for fraud.He is facing prosecution on a one-count charge, bordering on stealing by conversion to the tune of N41million. The offence is contrary to Section 342 of CAP 30, Criminal Code Law of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353 (L) of the same Law.The charge reads: “That you, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo on or about the 23rd day of November, 2015 in Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your own use, the sum of Forty-one Million Naira (N41, 000, 000. 00) being money received by you from one Onyishi Maduka Samuel for the family of late Ifemelunma Okoye, in your capacity as the liquidator of Ifemelunma and Company Enterprises Limited and thereby committed an offence”.He pleaded “not guilty”when the charge was read to him, following which prosecution counsel, Ajobiewe Rotimi Enitan asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional facility, while the defendant, who appeared for himself, applied that he be allowed to continue enjoying an earlier bail granted to him by Justice H. O. Eya of the same court, on the same matter.

After listening to both sides, Justice Oluedo granted the defendant’s application and adjourned the matter to May 13, 14 and 15, 2025 for trial.The defendant was initially arraigned before Justice Eya of the same court on June 23, 2022. He pleaded “not guilty” and was granted bail.

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Crime

‘Child Support Refunded, It Was A Setup’ — Ayeni Takes Adaobi Alagwu to Court Over Paternity Claim

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Businessman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, has dragged an Abuja based lady, Ms. Adaobi Alagwu before an Abuja Customary Court, over the paternity of a child given birth to by the respondent.

The plaintiff is specifically denying being the father of the said child referred to as “X” in the suit.At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to Ayeni, Silas Onu applied to withdraw the earlier suit on the grounds of improper service.

Following the striking out of the first suit, Onu informed the court that a fresh petition had been filed before the court based on the same subject and same properly served on the respondent.Respondent counsel, who confirmed receipt of service of the suit apologized to the court for the absence of the respondent in court.He further stated that the respondent is still within time to file her defence.

At this point, the court asked the respondent’s counsel whether he is denying that the sum paid by Dr. Ayeni to Adaobi family has not been refunded to the complainant.The lawyer, however, answered that the said money has been refunded but added they are yet to file their defense.Adjourning the matter, the court stressed that the respondent should serve all the process of their reply on the complainant and that parties should be in court at the next adjourned date for trial.The court subsequently adjourned till February 17 for hearing of the said suit.Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Dr. Ayeni, who attended the court session with his wife, said, “the matter is about one rabble rouser girl trying to malign me that she has a child for me. Initially, when I thought it was real, I took some responsible steps. But later I discovered that it was all a set up I therefore took immediate steps to reverse those steps.“The money I paid because of the child has been returned. I just want a clear record to make it convincingly and unambiguously clear that there is no connection between me and the lady. She’s a gold digger but this time, she has met with the wrong person.“That is why I brought her to court here so that matters are laid to rest once and for all.

“I have records of all the events, and we are ready to prove our case.”

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