Sacked Bank Executives Docked –Cecilia Ibru
Slumps
The
sacked Oceanic Bank Chief Executive, Mrs Cecilia
Ibru, one of the 14 bank chief executives
arraigned before the Federal high Court
collapsed in the dock as 23 count charge was
read to her.
Nigeria’s anti graft agency, the Economic and
Financial Crime Commission EFCC, arraigned the
Ibru and 13 other banks Chief executive for
alleged economic crimes ranging from money
laundering to giving out loans without
collaterals.
Proceedings were disrupted for about 15 minutes
following this drama. Before her arraignment,
Mrs Ibru was reported to be suffering from ill
health.
The development caught both the judge, Justice
Daniel Abutu and Counsel to the
accused unawares. Mrs Ibru was however, brought
under control when her physician, Gabriel Ovadje,
who was also in court, attended to her and
certified her fit to continue with the trial.
Others brought before Justice Dan Abutu of the
Federal High Court, Ikoyi, included former
Managing Directors of FinBank, Okey Nwosu;
Afribank, Sebastian Adigwe; and Union Bank,
Bartholomew Ebong.
They also included seven directors of
Intercontinental Bank Plc, including the
Chairman of the bank, Raymond Obieri, and two
other directors of Union Bank.
The bank executives, who were docked one after
another, were accused of committing economic
crimes by granting several loans worth billions
of naira without collateral to their clients.
After the charges had been read to the all the
accused by the court registrar, they pleaded not
guilty.
The judge consequently ordered Nwosu, Adigwe and
Ololo to be remanded in prison custody, while
Ibru and the seven directors of Intercontinental
bank were remanded in EFCC custody.
The case was adjourned till September 4 for
hearing in the bail applications.
NAN/Qasim/ Austeen/Ahaziah