FCMB Manager, Two Others Docked For N1.2bn Fraud

A Lagos High Court,Wednesday docked the Ikeja GRA branch manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Tope Munis,  for allegedly aiding N1.2 billion fraud.

He was arraigned on 15 counts amended charge alongside Dare Osamo and Ayoola Bisola who had earlier been arraigned over the alleged fraud .

During yesterday’s proceedings,the Director, Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins, told Justice Oyindamola Ogala informed that the state had an amended charge to include the branch manager who allegedly connived with Dare Osamo to dupe  Star Orient owned by a businessman, Otunba Babatunde Akanbi Babalola.

Munis on the 15th day of February, 2016, while acting as Branch Manager, First City Monument Bank Plc. situated at No 48, Isaac John Street, Government Residential Area (G R.A) Branch, allegedly committed the offence,according to the amended charge.

Besides,Munis and Osamo, allegedly demonstrated intention to defrauding and without lawful authority or excuses approved the opening of a new account for Star Orient Nig. Ltd when there were no SCUML (i.e Special Control Unit against Money Laundering) certificate number on the account opening form.

The amended charge also   stated that Munis and Osamo, allegedly ran contrary to banking rules when they opened the account without full details of the directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited, no means of identification or BVN (Bank Verification Numbers) of the directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited and upon a forged resolution purportedly signed by Dare Osamo as sole signatory when there are two directors who are signatories to Star Orient Nigeria Limited’s account.

Martins told  the court  about the existence of the amended charge and prayed it  to take his plea over the allegations leveled against the branch manager.

Munis pleaded not guilty to four-count charges relating to him out of the fifteen amended count charges

The state prosecutor, thereafter, asked the court for a trial date and a remand order pending the determination of his bail application.

 J.O. Olushade, counsel to the branch manager, informed the court of his bail application in liberal terms.

He prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on the ground that the offences allegedly committed  by his client and other defendants are bailable.

But the state DPP said asked the court to ignore the request of the defendants on the strength  of the  severity of the offences.

In her ruling on the bail application, Justice Ogala granted the 3rd defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties.

The sureties must be resident in the state and have title to landed property,she said,adding that they must provide evidence of tax payment to state government as well as their residential address, which must be verified.