The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission today, May 10, 2013, arraigned the Company Secretary of E-
Barclays Micro Finance Bank Limited, Abuja Oby Onwukeme before Justice Adeniyi
Ademola Adetokunbo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a one count charge of obstructing justice.
Onwukeme was alleged to
have wilfully declined to furnish the Commission with account information of
one of her customers, Chief Paulinus Enendu of Pamadas and Sons Limited who was
being investigated for obtaining money under false pretence and issuance of dud
cheque to the tune of N4.2 million.
She had despite repeated
appeals and citing of Section 38 (2) (a) of the EFCC Establishment Act which relates
to the crime of obstruction, maintained that her client’s lawyer wrote and
informed her not to disclose the information to the Commission.
When
the charge was read to her, she pleaded not guilty prompting the prosecution
counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed to ask for a date for trial.
However, counsel to the
accused person, C.O Achilike presented an oral bail application which was not
opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Adetokunbo granted
the accused person bail on self recognisance stating that the accused must produce two passport
photographs, an ID card and an undertaking signed by the Managing Director of
E-Barclays Microfinance Bank, Pastor Kingsley Onuorah to produce her when
needed by the court.
The charge read; “that you
Oby Onwukeme being the Legal Adviser and Company Secretary of E-Barclays Micro
Finance Bank Limited on or about the 21st day of January, 2013, at
Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did
wilfully obstruct the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
in the exercise of their powers to seek and receive information on Account Number
4010074168 belonging to Pamamdas & Sons Limited, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 38 (2) (a) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (b)
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004”.
The case has been adjourned
to the 8th and 9th of July, 2013.
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