N8b fraud: EFCC arrests another suspect

By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

As the trial of some staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other commercial banks over alleged fraud totaling over N8billion continues, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission yesterday told the Federal High Court in Ibadan that one of the run-away suspects had been arrested.

The commission through its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) disclosed this during the sitting of the court yesterday.

Mr Rotimi Jacobs, who gave the name of the arrested suspect as Tijani Olusoga, informed the court that he would like to effect some amendment to try the suspect along with his colleagues.

Six CBN staff are standing trial over alleged forgery and stealing mutilated currency notes.

Jacobs said the suspect would be charged with an 11- count charge.

After arguments from counsel to all the applicants, Justice Faji, adjourned ruling on the bail applications till 19 June, 2015.

The accused are Kolawole Babalola, Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philip, Kehinde Fadokun and Olutunde.

In the second batch, Kolawole Babalola, Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philip of CBN while Ajuwon Bolade and Samuel Ogbeide, were also arraigned.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, on Thursday informed the court how one of the suspects standing trial in the over N8billion currency scam involving some staffers of the CBN and some commercial banks were exchanging notes boxes while the deal lasted.

The suspects, were listed as fourth and fifth defendants are Ajuwon Bolade and Samuel Ogbeide.

Reading the extract from the confessional statement made to the EFCC by the suspects, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs,SAN, quoted that the fourth defendant in his statement said he assisted in exchange of boxes of money containing N10million currency for mutilated currency and got N160,000 as compensation from the deal.

He also revealed that the fifth defendant, Ajuwon Bolade, in his statement confessed that a colleague from another commercial bank introduced him to the deal.

According to Jacobs, Ajuwon wrote “A colleague from one commercial banks (namewitheld) told him how to make money in a legitimate manner during this hardship. He later came to my office,(challenge,Ibadan) to explain what he meant to me.

“I stupidly agree and discussed with my colleagues with a colleague. I went with the driver went to exchange the bus with a mobile policeman at the open field of LG show room.

“Dolapo Ojo giving me N500,000 (Five hundred thousand Naira) which I shared with other colleagues-Samuel, Ajuwon and driver, Lekan, which I can’t remember his surname.”

Meanwhile, Bolade disclosed that the other operation was not successful because the CBN rejected it.

Iin his address, the agency counsel, Jacobs, informed the court while arguing against bail for the suspects and why such crime should be nip in the bud said the practice “is a racket that has been spreading round our banks.”

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