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Keystone Bank, Five Others Face N855m Fraud Charges
N855million Fraud Charges The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) last Wednesday, arraigned Keystone Bank (former Bank PHB) and
five others before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on charges of conspiracy and
fraud.
Reports say that charged with the bank were Anayo Nwosu,
Ashrok Isran, Olajide Oshodi, Sunny Obaeze and Nulec Industries Ltd.
Oshodi and Obaeze are management staff of Keystone Bank
while Isran, an India national, is the Chairman of Nulec Industries.
The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said that the defendants
allegedly defrauded one Daniel Chukwudozie of Dozzy Oil of the sum of N855
million.
Jacobs alleged that the defendants had between June 2008 and
July 2008, obtained the aforesaid sum from Chukwudozie with intent to defraud.
The prosecutor said that the defendants collected the money
on the pretext that it would be used in payment of an upcoming initial public
offer of Nulec Industries shares.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged
offences.
Justice Habeeb Abiru, after listening to the submissions of
counsel, granted the defendants bail.
Abiru held that the Chairman/Managing Director of Keystone
Bank must write a letter of undertaking to guarantee that Nwosu, Oshodi and
Obaeze would be in court for trial.
He also ruled that a member of the top management of the
bank should stand as surety for the trio in the sum of N100 million each.
The judge granted Isran N50 million bail with two sureties
in like sum.
Abiru also gave the condition that one of the sureties must
be a property owner in Lagos and must also show evidence of payment of tax.
The judge further ruled that the travel documents of all the
defendants should be deposited with the chief registrar of the court.
Trial to commence on October 22.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.