A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded Fasiku Raphael, a former official of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in custody
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded Fasiku Raphael, a former official of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in custody for alleged stealing and currency counterfeiting to the tune of N23.5 million.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Mr Raphael, said the suspect was arraigned on 27 March on a six-count charge.
According to the charge, which was read to him in the court, Mr Raphael, in June 2021 in Port Harcourt, while he was a staff member of the FCMB, allegedly stole N10, 040, 000, 00 belonging to Esther Ehire, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004.
He is similarly accused of stealing, in December 2021 in Port Harcourt, N8milion belonging to Okoye Ikechukwu.
Raphael pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, E. K. Bakam, asked for a date for the commencement of trial and prayed the court to remand the defendant.
Counsel to the defendant, V. U. Uzorchukwu, did not oppose the prayers by the prosecution.
The judge, P. I. Ajoku, ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and the matter adjourned to 13 July for the commencement of trial.
The EFCC said it went after Raphael after it received a petition against him for allegedly stealing N23, 500,000.00 meant for a fixed deposit in the FCMB.
