N45m Scam: EFCC Docks 3 over Forgery of Senate President’s Cheque
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday November 25, arraigned thee men over the theft and forgery of the Senate President, David Mark's cheque before a Federal Capital Territory High Court presided over by Justice Sunday
Aladetoyinbo.
The three men, Emeka Ukor, a business man, Anthony Uzonwanne, a public servant and Babayemi Bukola, a secondary school teacher were slammed with a seven –count charge of theft and forgery .They were said to have on 5th October 2009 conspired to steal and forge a FinBank cheque belonging to Senator David Mark which was drawn in favour of Aeromagnetic Fishers Ltd to the tune of Forty Five Million Naira(N45 Million) .
Luck however ran out on the trio who were rounded up by EFCC operatives when the stolen cheque was presented for payment and the senate president was promptly called to confirm whether he actually issued the said cheque.
According to the charge sheet, the offences were contrary to Sections 96,286(1) 363 of the Penal Code cap.532 laws of the federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.
The trio all pleaded not guilty to the charge and thereafter the prosecution counsel, Francis Girbo asked the court to remand them in prison custody pending the commencement of the trial.
However, counsel to Emeka Ukoh , Jude Agodi Esq, said it would not be right in the interest of justice to keep the accused persons in custody as they were already on EFCC bail. He also said that his client was not in good health.Reacting, Girbo asked the court to discountenance the application as it was just being moved
Reacting, Girbo asked the court to disc
Orally. He said that application for bail is best served when it is formally written and filed before the court.The judge while agreeing with the prosecution counsel that formal applications be brought for the bail of the first and second accused persons, disagreed with him regarding the opposition to the bail application of the third accused person, Bukola Babayemi who filed and moved a written application for bail through his counsel, Olugbenga Ore.v o
He said the offence for which the third accused person was arraigned was bailable and that he is presumed innocent until contrary is proven. He thereafter,granted bail to Bukola Babayemi in the following terms : to produce a surety, N1million in like sum , surety must be a senior civil servant not below level 14 , must also be a resident of Abuja.
The case has been adjourned till February 17,2010 for hearing while the first and second accused persons are to be remanded in Kuje prison.