N30m fraud: Ex-Finbank manager granted bail

court

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday varied the bail conditions of a former Branch Manager of Finbank now (First City Monument Bank), Rosemary Usifo, charged with N30 million fraud.

Usifo was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force on Dec. 5, 2013, on a one-count charge.

She was charged alongside her bank.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Following a bail application moved by defense counsel, Justice Saliu Saidu had granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge had added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation with a landed property in Lagos while the other surety must be a public or civil servant of grade level 15 and above.

The judge ordered her remand at the Kirikiri Prisons pending the perfection of her bail terms.

When the case was mentioned on Monday, Usifo’s counsel, Mr. Olu Akanbi, informed the court of a motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions granted to her.

He prayed the court to remove the condition of one of the sureties possessing a property.

The application was not opposed by the prosecution.

Consequently, Saidu granted Usifo bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court held that one of the sureties must be a public or civil servant of grade level 15, and serving with either the Federal or Lagos State Government.

The judge held that the court’s registrars and the prosecutor must be satisfied with the sureties.

He adjourned the case to March 16 for trial.

In the charge, the accused was alleged to have committed the offence in 2011.

The prosecution stated that the accused defrauded a bank customer, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mr. Archibong Nkanga, of N30 million.

The sum was allegedly obtained from the fixed deposit account of the customer.

The prosecution submitted that offence contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2) (a), (c), and 3 (1) (2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Comments

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog