An Akure Magistrate Court sitting at Oke Eda has asked one Kate Njoku, 60, to be remanded in prison after she was arraigned for attempting to defraud a Union Bank branch in Akure of N1.67million.
Mrs. Njoku was on Thursday arraigned on a five-count charge of forgery and attempt to defraud the commercial bank.
She however pleaded not guilty to charges against her.
Police prosecutor, Adejuwon Akinpelumi, told the court that the offence contravened Sections 464(C) and punishable under section 467(2)(g) of the Criminal code,cap 37,Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
He said the offence was committed on May 19 and June 9 respectively, at Union Bank Plc in Akure, the state capital.
Mr. Akinpelumi said the accused falsely presented herself as Iroha M.A before the cashiers of Union Bank Plc with a forged bank withdrawal slip of the same bank with the intent to defraud the bank.
“Njoku was arrested when she fraudulently converted the sum of N1,678,000 to her own use, being the money entrusted into the care of the Union Bank Plc,” he said.
The charges against the accused read in part, “That you Kate Njoku and others at large between 19th Day of May, 2015 and 9th Day of June,2015 at various times, at Union Bank Plc in Akure Magisterial district, did conspire with another to commit felony to with forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code, cap 37,vol 1, law of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
“That you Kate Njoku and other at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did forge a bank note withdrawal slip of Union Bank Plc with intent to the defraud and thereby committed offence contrary to section 464(c) and punishable under section 467(2)(g) of the criminal code, cap 37,vol.1, laws of Ondo state of Nigeria.”
“That you Kate Njoku and other at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did fraudulently covert the sum of One Million Six Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand (N1,678,000.00) to your own use being the money entrusted into the care of Union Bank Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390(4)(6) of the criminal code, cap37, vol1, laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 2006.”
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Sunday Adedapo, however ordered the accused to be remanded in Olokuta prison custody, and adjourned the case to June 22,2015 for hearing.