The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has arraigned a banker, Nsa Ayi, before Justice Mojisola Dada
of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for fraudulent and false
accounting to the tune of N700m.
He was also said to have altered
instructions and falsified signatures of customers to transfer money
into various accounts outside the bank.
The EFCC, which arraigned Ayi on 11
counts of fraud, said the offenses were contrary to Section 335(a) of
the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant, a former Relationship
Officer, Coronation Merchant Bank, allegedly connived with unknown
parties to move funds using customers’ electronic instructions meant for
investment in the Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds, Treasury Bills
and Fixed Deposits.
The money was allegedly transferred in
tranches into the defendant’s Guaranty Trust Bank account, 0001600855,
as well as his Zenith Bank account, 1002771899.
He, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution
counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed
the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defense counsel, B.A. Ayeni, informed the court of a pending application for bail on behalf of his client.
However, in his response, the
prosecution counsel, Omewa, opposed the bail application, saying that
“he is a flight-risk who had plans to relocate with his entire family to
the United States last year, if not for the timely response in
arresting him by the EFCC.”
Omewa further informed the court that
there was no document showing that the defendant’s son was critically
ill to warrant him being flown abroad for treatment.
“My Lord, the defendant’s health is very much okay, as he was well fed in the EFCC custody,” the prosecution counsel added.
After listening to both parties, Justice
Dada ruled that if the defendant’s son was truly ill and needed medical
treatment abroad, the defendant should not be pleading with the court
to allow him travel out with his entire family only to treat his son.
“I, therefore, conclude that the defendant is a flight-risk as put before the court by the prosecution.
“There is no guarantee of him coming
back to Nigeria, if he had traveled out with his family, despite
booking for return tickets,” Justice Dada held.
Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the
case till March 6, 26, 29 and April 16 and 27, 2018 for the
commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in Kirikiri prison
pending the hearing of his bail application.
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