N35m fraud: Court orders arrest of wanted Keystone Bank employee

A Federal High Court, Lagos, has declared a female banker with Keystone Bank, Mrs. Ebele Bernadine Okpala wanted over alleged N35 million fraud.

Apart from declaring the banker, who is said to be outside the country, wanted, Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who presided over the court, also directed the Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest her upon arriving the country.

Justice Dipeolu made the above order while granting a motion Exparte marked FHC/L/530C/2024, filed and moved by Barrister M. Y. Bello, on behalf of the Nigeria Police.

In the motion, Ebele Bernadine Okpala and one Perpetual Onyeto, also a banker, were listed as first and second defendants/respondents in the suit, while Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were listed as cited parties/respondents

In urging the court to make the above orders, Barrister Bello, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) informed the court that the application was pursuant to several sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction. Adding that the application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.

In granting the application, Justice Dipeolu held that: “after considering the application and the supporting affidavit, the request had merit and granted all the reliefs sought by the prosecution.

“That an order is hereby made that the 1st defendant/despondent be declared wanted and placed on the wanted list of the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit, 13, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos until she is arrested.

“That an order is hereby made compelling Cited parties/respondents to assist in apprehending 1st Defendant/Respondent once he enters into the Country.

“That an order is hereby made permitting the Publication of the name of the 1st defendant/despondent in the National Daily Newspapers and Social Media handles by the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unity Ikoyi, Lagos for the purpose of fulfilling the requirement of the Order 1 above.”

It would be recalled that both the wanted banker and the second defendant/respondent were previously arraigned before the court by the operatives of the police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU).

Specifically, the two bankers were arraigned before the court sometimes in September 2024, on alleged conspir­acy, theft, money laundering, fraudulent lift of lien placed on bank’s customer’s account and obtaining the sum of N35 million by false presence.