See faces of 2 bankers arraigned for N27 million fraud, remanded in EFFC custody (photo)

- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Ebenezer Adelowo and Walter Ekomaye were arraigned over an alleged N27 million fraud

- The Oyo state High Court sitting in Iyaganku ordered the suspects to be remanded in EFCC custody

- The court also adjourned the case to February 16

The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, February 2, arraigned Ebenezer Adelowo and Walter Ekomaye before Justice ML Owolabi of the Oyo state High Court sitting in Iyaganku.

The two suspects were arraigned on different and separate charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretenses.

A statement by the EFCC said while Ebenezer and Walter were arraigned together on a three- count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing, Ebenezer answered to another separate five count charge alone for obtaining money under false pretenses respectively.

They both pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.

The statement added that in view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Adeola Elumaro, prayed the court for a trial date.

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On his part, the counsel to the first defendant, Degbile Moronkeji, informed the court of an application for bail filed on 31st January, 2018, which he said is before the court.

Moronkeji thereafter prayed the court to allow the first defendant remain in the EFCC's custody pending ruling on his bail application.

Also, the counsel to the second defendant informed the court of his bail application filed this morning.

Justice Owolabi however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC's custody pending the determination of their bail applications.

The case is adjourned to February 16, 2018 for hearing of bail applications.

Walter Ekomaye, 39, and Ebenezer Adelowo, 31, were arraigned sequel to a petition from a regional control compliance officer and zonal control compliance officer of a bank (name withheld) alleging that sometimes in December 2017, the suspects were involved in an illegal withdrawal of funds from customer's accounts totaling N23 million.

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It was further alleged that they took advantage of their position as account officers to some of the bank customers to perpetrate the fraud.

The petition stated that Ebenezer allegedly collected over N27 million from different bureau-de-change outlets under the pretense that he will give them the dollar equivalent.

NAIJ.com earlier reported how the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, was recently dragged to court by the EFCC on a two-count charge of bribery, two years after the anti-graft agency absolved him of any wrongdoing in a case of judicial bribery and racketeering.

The case marked CR: 109/18 was filed on January 25, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and is being handled by the Festus Keyamo and Offem Uket on behalf of the EFCC.

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Source: Naija.ng