The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC arraigned three men, Segun Osho, Roland Alozie and Abass Kolawole on Thursday 28th April before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice M.O Opara on a 3-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion N9.5 million.
Two of the arraigned suspects, Osho and Alozie, both staff of Access Bank Plc located at Moscow Road, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State 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).
The cheque which was issued by a Rockson Engineering Company Limited as tax remittance to be paid to the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue was thereafter passed to Kolawole, the third of the suspect who attempted to pay the proceed into his personal account in Ecobank.
Of the three count charges, one 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 of the charges 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.”
The trio however pleaded not guilty before the court which prompted the prosecution counsel, M.T. Iko to move an application that the court set a date to commence trial.
The three suspected were ruled by the court to be remanded in prison custody pending the next hearing of the case.
Counsels to the 1st and 2nd descendants urged the court to grant bail to their clients. The bail application hearing will be convened on 4 May, 2016.