By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
A Benin High Court on Friday remanded a former manager of the United Bank for Africa, Mrs Florence Onome Odior , her husband, Sunday Odior and two others in prison custody for allegedly defrauding one Moses Obozohae , a customer of N55, 840,000
The accused persons, Florence Odior and the four others were arraigned before a Criminal High Court in Benin City by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 8th of June 2017, on 19th count change no .B/ CD/ 1/ 2017 of fraud, stealing, conspiracy and converting the said amount to personal use.
The principal suspect, Florence Odior was alleged to have defrauded, uttered a forged document titled: TD 0990001445 dated 2nd August 2012 to Moses Obozokhae as genuine.
The four accused persons who were granted Administrive Bail by the EFCC since their arrest had approached the Court for bail application.
The 1st and 2nd accuse persons counsel, Mrs E C Ekejiube argued that the accused persons had always reported to the EFCC office as requested and the 1st accuse person is presently receiving medical treatment from hospital, as the receipts in the affidavit with the medical certificates , shows that the 1st accuse is not medically alright.
The counsel told the court that, the 2nd accuse person, Sunday Odior is the husband of the 1st accuse person, Florence Odior that they both have children under them as well as aged parents whom they are taking care of. Keeping them in prison custody according to her will hamper their care.
She therefore Appeal to the court to grant them bail as they will not jump bail, which the applicants have never done.
Counsel to the 4th accused person, Barrister, Chukwuka Enegide said the accused person have always been regular in court and have no reason to jump bail, he plead the court to grant the accuse bail as he has always reported to the agency. He said the applicants’ health condition is bad and as such requires constant check up by a medical practitioner.
Oppositing the ball application for the accuse persons in an affidavit sworn to by Ganiyu Ajisafe, an investigate officer attached to the EFCC and argued by the counsel to EFCC, Mustapha Aliu , pleaded with the court to refuse the bail application, as the accuse persons have always failed to report during the administrative bail granted to them by the agency.
He urged the court to dismiss the applications since they have never sent any correspondent that shows medical problems. Stating that medical problems should not be an excuse since prison has all the free facilities for medical attention.
“I urge my lord to discontinue the applications, for bail is by discretion of the court not by right.
The presiding Judge, High Court (5) Ohimai Ovbiagele, ordered that the four accuse persons be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to June 21st for ruling on the bail application.
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