The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former female banker, Mrs. Marilyn-Joan Obiora before Justice Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia state on a 15 count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud. The suspect, Marilyn Obiora is standing trial alone as her cohorts are presently at large. The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel C.A Okoli asked the court to remand her in prison custody pending the commencement of trial. Justice Umar remanded the accused following the failure of the defence counsel, Adetayo Oyedele to present before the court a written application for bail.

Obiora’s arraignment followed a petition by one Mr. Stephen Inegbu, a zonal security supervisor of Diamond Bank Plc in Port Harcourt , on some sharp practices by the suspect and others at large, detected during a routine examination of customers’ accounts in the bank.

According to Mr. Inegbu, the Bank’s inspection unit unravelled three cases of fraud involving the following amounts: N26, 000,000.00 (Twenty Six Million Naira), N91, 600,000.00 (Ninety One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) and N8, 000,000.00 (Eight Million Naira) respectively. Further investigations revealed that Marilyn-Joan Obiora masterminded the fraudulent withdrawals that amounted to a total of N125, 600,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira only), with some help from four other officials of the Bank namely: Eze Nwekwe, Emmanuel Nwosu, Emeka Owo and Emmanuel Okebugwu.

The case was adjourned to July 18th and 19th, 2012, for hearing of bail application and commencement of trial.

“That you Marilyn-Joan Obiora and Eze Nwekwe and Emmanuel Nwosu now at large on or about the 26th day of January 2009 at Diamond Bank, Eziukwu Road Aba, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court in your capacity as officials did conspire to commit felony to wit stealing contrary to s. 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007 when read along with section 15(1) of the failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007”.

“That you Marilyn-Joan Obiora and Emeka Owo now at large on or about the 13th day of May 2010 at Diamond Bank, Eziukwu Road Aba, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did and in your position as an officer and business manager of the said Diamond Bank did steal N6, 000,000.00 (Six Million Naira) from a Diamond Bank Account belonging to Mrs. Olubukola Nwoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to s. 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007 when read along with section 15(1) of the failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007”. “That you Marilyn-Joan Obiora and Emmanuel Okebugwu now at large on or about the 29th day of December, 2008, at Diamond Bank, Eziukwu Road Aba, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did and in your position as an officer and business manager of the said Diamond Bank did steal N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) from a Diamond Bank Account 0781100000468 and thereby committed an offence contrary to s. 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007 when read along with section 15(1) of the failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007”.

Media & Publicity Unit
1st June, 2012.