FCMB Manager Lands In Court Over N1.2 Billion Fraud
A manager with the First City Monument Bank, Tope Munis has been arraigned at a High Court of Lagos State over N1.2billion fraud.
Munis, who is the Manager of the GRA, Ikeja Branch of FCMB was arraigned on a 15 count amended charge with two others namely Dare Osamo and Ayoola Bisola on the allegation of aiding and abetting a N1.2billion fraud involving the property of Star Orient Nigeria Limited.
The trio who are standing trial before Justice Oyindamola At the resumption of trial on Thursday, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins, told the court that the state has an amended charge to include the branch manager who allegedly connived with Dare Osamo to swindle Star Orient owned by Otunba Babatunde Akanbi Babalola.
The amended charge indicated that Munis February 15, 2016, while acting as Branch Manager, First City Monument Bank PLC, situated at No 48, Isaac John Street, Government Residential Area (G R.A), Ikeja allegedly committed the offence.
It also stated that Munis and Osamo, demonstrated intention to allegedly defraud and without lawful authority or excuses approved the opening of a new account for Star Orient Nig. Ltd when there was no Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) certificate number on the account opening form.
According to the charge sheet, Munis and Osamo, ran foul of banking rules when they opened the account without full details of the directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited, as well as the absence of means of identification and the lack of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) of the directors of Star Orient Nigeria Limited.
The Court was told that a forged resolution purportedly signed by Dare Osamo as sole signatory was presented whereas there are two directors who are signatories to Star Orient Nigeria Limited’s account.
Accordingly, following the amended charges, the prosecution urged the court to take their pleas upon which FCMB Manager Tope Munis pleaded not guilty to four-count charges out of the fifteen amended count charges for which he is being accused.
The Lagos State Director of prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins thereafter asked the court for a trial date and a remand order pending the determination of his bail application. However, counsel to Munis, J.O. Olushade Esq, who represented Dr. Wale Olawoyin, SAN, said he had a bail application before the court and prayed the court for liberal terms, stressing that the offence allegedly commented by the defendants are bailable.
But the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution opposed the bail application, saying that the court must consider the severity of the offence thus, urged the court to reject the bail application of the defendant.
In his ruling, the trial Judge. Justice Ogala granted the 3rd defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties that must be resident in the state and have title to landed property.
Justice Ogala also ruled that the defendant must provide evidence of tax payment to the state government as well as deposit his International passport with the Registrar of the court in addition to the verification of his residential address.
