The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned a man identified as Andrew Warri before a Lagos Special Offences Court, I
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned a man identified as Andrew Warri before a Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State for allegedly defrauding Guaranty Trust Bank of N125 million.
The accused, Warri, was re-arraigned before Justice Olubusola Okunuga on a five-count charge bordering on issuance of dude cheques, stealing, obtaining by false pretence.
The defendant who was arraigned alongside two companies: A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited and Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Consequent upon his plea, the prosecuting counsel, A. A. Usman, prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant at a correctional facility, pending determination of the case.
But the defendant’s counsel, A. M. Makinde (SAN), prayed the court for his client to continue with the earlier bail granted him by the previous judge, since he did not violate the earlier bail condition.
But the prosecution differed ,saying that because the matter was presented afresh, he should seek a new bail appliication,just as he considered the defendant a ‘flight risk’.
Justice Okunuga , while giving her ruling on bail appliication agreed with the defendant’s counsel that his client should continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted him based on the fact that he had not contravened the conditions.
Earlier, the prosecution also informed the court that the Commission had an amended charge against the defendant following the ruling on a “No case submission”, which discharges the defendant on count one and two.
Justice Sherifa Solebo gave the verdict before she retired from the bench, and the case was later transfered to Justice Okunuga for trial.
Based on the ruling , Warri was discharged and freed of count one and two of the charge, while the court ordered the defendant to defend himself on count three to six.
