Speaker’s aide, bank manager charged for stealing N32.5m

By Innocent Anaba
Personal Assistant to Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji , Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Oyebode Atoyebi, was, Friday, re-arraigned before a Lagos State Hifh Court, Igbosere by  Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.

Atoyebi was rearranged before Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson on two-count charge of intent to defraud and stealing N32.5 million.
A former manager, Intercontinental Bank Plc., now Access Bank, is standing trial alongside  Olayinka Sanni.

The commission had earlier charged the accused and the company with conspiracy, intent to defraud, forgery and stealing N672.4 million belonging to Murhi International.

At yesterday  arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

EFCC informed  the court that the duo committed the offences on June 29, 2011, with intent to defraud, stole the above sum belonging Resourcery BDC ltd, adding  that the defendants stole the amount by fraudulently converting the money belonging to Resourcery BDC Ltd., to their own use.

EFCC said that the offence was contrary to Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Counsel to Sanni, meantine, prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

The bail application was opposed by EFCC, which filed a 13 paragraph counter-affidavit, praying the court to dismiss the bail application.

The court after listening to parties ordered that the defendants should continue to be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the case till February  13, to take the bail application.