The Lagos Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, has turned the request of Samuel Ihechukwu Asiegbu , a staff of WEMA Bank Plc, to be admitted to bail while on trial of allegedly defrauding the bank the sum of N8,568,090,500 billion.
Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the proof of evidence before the court is weighty, adding that the defendant might not be available for trial.
Samuel Ihechukwu Asiegbu, is standing trial alongside Ejim Kingsley Kelechi and Onyeimachi Fabian,Hamzat Zakariya, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim.
The defendants are charged to court for alleged conspiracy, unauthorised access of computer system and stealing of N8,568,090,500 billion from WEMA Bank.
The court also adjourned to hear the plea bargain agreement of the first, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants on September 19.
The court had adjourned to rule on the defendants’ bail applications before the last mention on the matter.
M. K Bashir, the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, prosecuting on behalf of the federal government, had informed Justice Oshodi that during the court’s vacation, the agency received applications for plea bargain from the first, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants.
He added that the applications were approved, except application for the fourth defendant which is still pending approval.
He prayed the court to give earliest possible date for hearing of the plea bargain agreement.
Victoria Aniohu, the counsel to the first and fifth defendants; Nnamdi Anoka, counsel to the fourth defendant and M. H. Oba-Temi counsel to the sixth defendant confirmed the position to the court.
The court considered various applications filed by the defendants’ counsels and counter responses by the prosecution counsel.
It held: “Regarding the first defendant’s, application for bail is refused. I am not satisfied that the first defendant has presented sufficient evidence to justify the grant of bail.
“I am satisfied that the second to seventh defendants should be granted bail subject to appropriate conditions.”
The trial judge granted bail to the second to seventh defendants in the sum of N50 million, with two responsible sureties in the like sum who must depose to affidavit and provide means of proof of gainful employment within jurisdiction of the court.
He held: “The second, fourth, and sixth defendants, being holders of valid international passports, shall surrender the same to the chief registrar of this court.
“The third, fifth, and seventh defendants, not possessing valid international passports, shall provide written undertaking not to apply for or obtain any travel document without the prior leave of this court, and without the dependency of this court.
“The court registrar shall notify the Nigeria Immigration Service of the submission of the passport, and the conditions requiring the undertaking, depending the determination of this case.”
