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A Lagos banker, Patience Okoli, who is a cashier with one of the Lagos banks was yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly stealing N48.4 million belonging to her employers. The cashier, who works in Global Trust Savings and Loans Limited, located at Plot 740, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, was arraigned before Justice Serifat Solebo, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 100-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery and stealing of the said sum.

The EFCC in the charge, alleged that the cashier had, between September 2007 and February 2009, while acting in her capacity, fraudulently forged and altered several withdrawal slips of the finance house in carrying out the act. The offences, according to the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. George Yakua, are contrary to Sections 390 (8), 467, 468, of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003. The banker was accused of defrauding some of the bank’s customers as well.

The EFCC had, in count one, alleged that the accused had between September 26, 2007 and October 9, 2008, with intent to defraud, stole N775,000, by fraudulently depositing and withdrawing the money from one Clara’s account. She was alleged to have, between January 21, 2008 and February 4, 2009, fraudulently withdrawn a total sum of N27,734,900 from the account of one Odu, a customer to her employer.

In count 100 of the charge, the accused was accused of defrauding her employer of N200,000, by forging and altering a withdrawal slip of the company, which she claimed to have been signed by Odu. The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Her lawyer, Festus Afeleyedion, pleaded with the court to let his client continue with the previous bail terms granted her when she was first arraigned in 2012. Justice Solebo conceded to the lawyer’s request and adjourned the matter till February 16.

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BIG STORY

Court Remands Woman For Allegedly Stabbing Husband To Death In Ibadan

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An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of a housewife, Olajumoke Olalere, 33, at Agodi Correctional facility, Ibadan, for allegedly stabbing her husband to death.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered her remand pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

She, thereafter, adjourned the case until March 5, 2025 for mention.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the police charged Olalere with a count of murder.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, had told the court that the defendant on October 30, at 9.00 p.m. allegedly caused the death of her 39-year-old husband, Oluwasegun Tinubu.

Akinloye said the defendant allegedly stabbed her husband with a knife during a disagreement at their house, at Zone 5, Gbelu, Iyana – Agbala, Ibadan.

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BIG STORY

UPDATE: EFCC Grants Former Delta Governor Okowa Bail Over Alleged N1.3trn Fraud

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The Port Harcourt zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta State, over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after reporting to the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC at the invitation of investigators handling his case.

Sources confirmed that the former governor left the EFCC facility around 9 pm on Wednesday night.

A source under anonymity stated: “He left the facility at about 9 pm yesterday (Wednesday).”

“Okowa is expected to return soon to provide documents and answer more questions before the matter will be charged to court.”

The former governor is accused of failing to account for the 13% derivation funds, as well as an additional N40 billion, which he allegedly claimed to have used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Specifically, Okowa is said to have purchased N40 billion worth of shares in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake in the offshore LNG venture.

The funds are also alleged to have been diverted for other purposes, including acquiring properties in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.

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BIG STORY

Assaulted Abuja Bolt Driver Makes U-Turn, Apologizes To Abia Rep Ikwechegh

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A Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, who was assaulted by the House of Representatives member representing Aba North/South of Abia State in the National Assembly, Alex Ikwechegh, during a package delivery, has apologized for his actions.

In a video statement on Thursday and seen by The Nation, Abuwatseya expressed regret for provoking Ikwechegh and asked Nigerians for forgiveness.

He said: “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago.

“I actually want to apologise to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.

“I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribes, or regions. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.

“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive and forget, as it’s even contained in our Lord’s Prayer, that ‘Lord, please forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ For there is no justice without forgiveness. Thank you very much.”

Abuwatseya also thanked family and well-wishers for their support over the issue, “I want to use this medium to thank my family members, my parents, my brothers, my uncles and everybody that stood by me.

“I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless Nigeria.”

On October 28, a viral video showed Ikwechegh slapping the Bolt driver in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Going by the conversation recorded in the viral video, the lawmaker had ordered some snails from a vendor who engaged the services of the e-hailing app driver to deliver the goods.

According to Abuwatseya, tensions escalated when he requested that Ikwechegh come outside to receive his delivery personally and asked to be paid.

In the video, the lawmaker repeatedly insisted that the request was disrespectful given his social status.

A furious Ikwechegh was heard speaking with the vendor on the phone. “How can this stupid idiot come to me and tell me that I am supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up a snail I am buying from you? I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen,” the lawmaker blurted to the speaker on the other side.

“I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will do that myself. I will show you that I am a big brother. I will tie you up, lie you down and put you in my generator house. Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here. Look at this monkey,” he said.

When alerted that the episode was recorded, the lawmaker told the driver: “My name is Honourable Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, I am a member of the House of Reps, tell them. Call the Inspector General of Police, let him come.”

However, a few days after the incident, Ikwechegh issued a public apology, acknowledging his actions and expressing regret over his behaviour during the altercation.

In a message posted on Instagram, the lawmaker apologised to the Bolt driver, the Nigerian Police Force, and the National Assembly, admitting that his actions did not meet the standards expected of a public official, regardless of the provocation involved.

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