By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE, CHIDIMMA OKEREAFOR & NANCY OGBUJI
LAGOS— A former branch manager of Ecobank Nig Plc, Oluwatosin Lawal, and her husband, Mike Lawal, were , yesterday, brought before a Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding the bank of N75,765,005 million (seventy five million, seven hundred and sixty five thousand and five naira).

The couple and Samolu & Brothers Nigeria Limited were charged in Suit No. ID/327C/2011 on a four-count charge of conspiracy to steal and stealing, but pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them in court.

The accused were said to have between July 19 and 31, 2009 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division stolen and fraudulently converted to their use N17,951, 500 (seventeen million, nine hundred and fifty-one thousand, five hundred naira) property of Ecobank Nig Plc.

The fifth charge read: “Oluwatosin Lawal, Mike Lawal and Samolu & Brothers Nig. Ltd between August 3 and 31, 2009 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud stolen and fraudulently converted to your use N25, 054,505 (twenty five million, fifty four thousand five hundred and five naira) property of Ecobank Nig Plc.

They were further accused of stealing N31, 000, 000 (thirty one million naira) property of Ecobank Nig Plc by fraudulently converting the money to their use, between September 1 and 30, and said to have some time in May 2009 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division conspired to commit felony to wit: stealing money, property of Ecobank Nig Plc.

Applying for the defendants’ bail application, their counsel, E. A. Alabi, told the court to grant them unconditional bail because they (defendants) had been in EFCC custody for two months and the 1st defendant is a nursing mother.

However, EFCC lawyer, C. O. Ugwu, opposed their bail application, noting that on arresting the 1st defendant no baby was found with her.

Ugwu argued that Oluwatosin Lawal and Mike Lawal (defendants) were charged seven years for stealing and not three years, adding “according to the evidence, the 1st defendant is guilty because she was withdrawing the money as if Christmas was fast approaching, and when it comes to law and trials, the fact that she is a nursing mother is no sentiment.”

Trial judge in the case, Justice Candide Johnson, ordered that the 1st defendant (Oluwatosin Lawal) be remanded in prison custody, while the 2nd defendant (Mike Lawal) is to be kept at the EFCC custody, pending ruling on their bail application.

The case was adjourned till December 19.