The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday April 28th, arraigned the trio of Segun Osho, Roland Alozie and Abass Kolawole before Justice M.O Opara of the Rivers State High Court, Port-Harcourt on a 3-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion N9.5 million Osho and Alozie, both staff of Access Bank Plc , Moscow Road, Port Harcourt , conspired to convert an EcoBank Manager’s cheque for Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira, (N9, 554, 286. 00) issued by Rockson Engineering Company Limited as tax remittance in favour of Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.
The said cheque was then passed to Kolawole
who attempted to pay it into his personal account in Ecobank. One of the counts read:
“You, Segun Osho, Rowland Alozie on or about the 26th of May, 2014 at Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the High Court of Rivers State did conspire with one Chukwudi and Tope Balogun, now at large to commit felony to wit: Stealing of Ecobank Manager’s cheque with cheque No. 19092084 valued Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira (N9, 554, 286. 00) issued in favour of Rivers State Internal Revenue Board by Rockson Engineering as Tax revenue and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 (a) of the Criminal Code law Cap 37 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999”.
Another charge read:
“You Abass Kolawole on or about the 26th of May, 2014 at Western Avenue Branch of Ecobank, Surulere within the Judicial Division of the Lagos State and triable in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the Rivers State High Court fraudulently stole the sum of Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira (N9, 554, 286, 00) by means of an Ecobank Manager’s cheque being issued in favour of Rivers State Internal Revenue Board by Rockson Engineering as Tax Revenue and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 (1) (a) and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code law Cap 37 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel M.T Iko, applied for a date to commence trial and asked that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
However, counsels to the 1st and 2nd defendants, King Gabriel and R.O Agbagbuo asked the court to grant their clients’ bail. Justice Opara adjourned the matter till 4 May, 2016 for argument on their bail applications.
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