Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday granted bail of N20 million to two Keystone Bank employees, Ebele Okpala and Perpetua Onyeto, who are accused of obtaining N35 million fraudulently.
The bail decision followed an
argument made by their defense counsel regarding their bail application.
Okpala and Onyeto were
arraigned on August 30, 2024, by the Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos on
charges related to conspiracy, theft, money laundering, and obtaining money
under false pretenses. According to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Eliot
Ejie, who is the prosecution counsel, the alleged crimes took place in July
2023. The prosecution claims that Okpala, with Onyeto's assistance, illegally
lifted a restriction on a customer's account at a Keystone Bank branch in
Anambra State and transferred the funds to Okpala's own account at the same
bank.
The prosecution argued that the
actions of the defendants violated several laws, including the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, the Criminal Code Act of 2004, and
the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022. Despite these
allegations, Okpala and Onyeto pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the bail hearing on Monday,
the prosecution strongly opposed the defendants' release on bail, but Justice
Dipeolu ultimately granted bail. The conditions set for bail include a bond of
N10 million each, along with two sureties each. One surety must own property
within the jurisdiction of the court, and the other must be a Grade Level 16
officer in either a Lagos or Federal Government agency.
The case has been adjourned to
November 6, 2024, for trial.
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