Thursday May 5, 2016 turned a bad day for Mrs. Irene Okeoha, a customer service manager of Ecobank Plc, Hotel Presidential branch, Port Harcourt as she appeared before Justice S. C. Amadi of the State High Court, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on one-count charge of stealing to the tune of eight million naira (N8, 000, 000. 00).
The case was brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
She was told by the court that, she could no longer return to her house, but to be remanded in prison custody until her bail is perfected.
Okeoha, allegedly breached trust by defrauding the bank of the sum of eight million naira.
Her charge sheet reads:
“That you, Mrs. Irene Okeoha on or about 17th February, 2016 at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt, within the Port Harcourt Division of this Honorable Court did fraudulently steal the sum of Eight Million Naira (N8, 000, 000. 00) only, property of Ecobank Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
When the charge was read to her, the accused pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, B. Igeongei, prayed the court to grant his client bail as the accused was already on administrative bail by the EFCC.
Justice Amadi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20, 000,000.00 (twenty million naira) and one surety in the like sum. The surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court should possess a landed property to be verified by the prosecution. The Surety is also to depose to an affidavit of means.
