EFCC Re-Arraigns 4 Stockbrokers For Allegedly Defrauding Company Of N13bn
The Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday re-arraigned four Nigerian Stockbrokers before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly defrauded First Marina Trust Limited of N13billion fraud.
The four Stockbrokers: Adeyemi Oluwaseun, Suleiman Yusuf Obhakume, Yusuf Imran Adekunle and Haruna Issah were dragged before the court by the EFCC on seven count amended charge of conspiracy and fraud.
According to the commission, they allegedly committed the offence while they were in the employment of the organization.
The defendants, who were first arraigned before Justice Josephine Oyefeso on November 16, 2017 pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Part of the amended charge before the court stated that ” Adeyemi Oluwaseun, Suleiman Yusuf Obhakume , Yusuf Imran Adekunle and Haruna Issah on or about 17th day of May, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court stole the sum of (N237,250, 000) Two hundred and thirty seven thousand, two hundred and fifty thousand naira only, property of First Marina Trust Limited.
“Adeyemi Oluwaseun, Suleiman Yusuf Obhakume, Yusuf Imran Adekunle and Haruna Issah, on or about 27th day of May, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court stole the sum of N500,200,000, property of First Marina Trust Limited.”
They were also accused of ‘stealing the sum of N183, 500,000, N180, 000,000, N186, 000,000 and N14, 749,000 respectively,’ all property of First Marina Trust Limited.
The prosecution counsel, Anselm Ozioko, had held that the offense is contrary to Section 285(1) and (8) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
During examination by the prosecutor, a prosecution witness who is the Chief Risk Officer of First Marina Trust Limited, Anthony Onyeoghane, told the court that the report of an internal investigation conducted by the company indicted the defendants of the offence.
“I was a member of the investigation committee set up by the company. A report was delivered to the management after investigation. I signed the report and every member of the committee signed the report. It was during investigation that this fraud was discovered,” he told the court.
The matter was adjourned till April 16 for continuation of trial.
