THE proposed arraignment of 16 bank staffs charged with N2.6 billion fraud, has been adjourned till July 4.
The accused are: Nigeria International Bank Ltd, Chief C. S Sankey, Adekunle Oladosun, Okechi Egwu, Lulu Ndubuka, Oyowole Ariyo. Kabiru Bello, and J.E Eriagbon,
Others are: Samson Ebie, Steve Obodomechine, Mikky Dons Nig. Ltd, Mark Anaele, Peter Harris, Peter Oriade, Olusola Fagbure and Obianwa Chuba.
They are charged on 20 counts bordering on conspiracy, intent to defraud, falsification of document, fraudulent alteration and diversion of over N2. 6 billion belonging to MicMerah International Agency Ltd.
The case which was fixed for arraignment of the accused was on Monday, further adjourned till July 4, following an information from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
On Monday, the first accused represented by its staff Mr Ofodile Ojiako was present in court.
Other accused present were: Mark Anaele representing Mikky dons Ltd, Lulu Ndukuba and Olusola Fagbure.
When the case was called, counsel from the office of the AGF, Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni informed the court of AGF’s withdrawal of the fiat given to the former prosecutor, Mr Gordy Uche (SAN).
She told the court that the AGF was yet to re-issue a fiat to another prosecuting counsel.
Based on this premise, the court adjourned the matter to July 4 for mention.
It will be recalled that the arraignment of the accused had previously been stalled on Feb. 9, March 2 and April 11, following the inability of the prosecution to serve the accused with the criminal summons.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to induce MicMerah International Agency Ltd, to deliver the said sum to them, to be used for offsetting a fraudulent import finance facility scheme.
They were also alleged to have falsified documents to fraudulently secure the release of four Volvo luxury buses and two 40 feet containers from the Nigeria Custom Service.
The accused are also charged with obtaining property by false pretence, as well as corruptly enriching themselves.
The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of sections 1(1) (a),1(3), and 8 (a), of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related offence Act, 2004.
The offence also contravened the provisions of sections 161, and 162 of the Custom and Excise Management Act, Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004 as well as sections 2, 2(1) and 10 (1) of the Recovery of Public Property Act, 2004.
