Court adjourns arraignment of bank chiefs to March 2

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos has said the arraignment of Bank chiefs and two companies, charged with N2.6 billion fraud will now be on March 2. The accused are Nigeria International Bank Ltd, Chief C. S Sankey, Adekunle Oladosun, Okechi Egwu, Lulu Ndubuka, Oyowole Ariyo. UKabiru 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 again stalled on Tuesday, due to the absence of the accused.
The prosecutor, Mr Chukwudi Chikelue informed the court that the prosecution has still been unable to effect service of the charge on the accused.
He, therefore, prayed the court for a further adjournment to enable prosecution serve the charge on all accused persons.
Consequently, Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the case to March 2 for arraignment of the accused. 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.

Besides, 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.