A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the branch head of Providus Bank Plc, Mariam Isoje, to appear before the court to take her plea over an alleged N144 million fraud.Justice Yellim Bogoro made the order after an application of the prosecutor, Henry Obiaze, who told the court that Ms. Isoje, has been flagrantly refusing to appear before the court to take her plea, ever since the charge was filed against her.
Mariam Isoje is being charged before the court alongside a Bureau De Change (BDC) Operator, Ibrahim Butali Abdulmumin, on a four count-charge of alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, concealing proceeds of unlawful activities and fraud of N144 million.
Both Defendants were charged before the court by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
In the charge marked FHC/L/221c/2022, they were alleged to have conspired together and for fraudulenty obtaining the sum of N144 million from their victims, under the pretence of exchanging the money to $250,000 USD, at the rate of N570:00.
The Providus Bank Plc manager, was particularly accused of concealing the proceeds of unlawful activities, derived directly from Her Co-defendant.
The alleged offences were said to have contravened sections 8 (a) and 1(1) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under the same Act.
The alleged offences are also contrary to and punishable under sections 18 (2)(b) and 20 (a)(b)of the Money (Prohibition) Act, 2022.
While, the BDC Operator had taken his plea on the charges, the Providus Bank Plc’s manager, has never appeared in court.
At the resumed hearing of the charge on Monday, the prosecutor consequently urged the court to issue bench warrant against her.
But lawyer to the banker, Onyekachi Asogwa, while citing a Court of Appeal decision, urged the court not to grant the prosecutor’s request, as his client has filed an application challenging the competence of the charge.
But the prosecutor countered his submission by citing a section of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which compels a defendant to take his plea before any application can be heard.
In his ruling, Justice Bogoro ordered the second defendant to submit herself to the jurisdiction of the court and take her plea on the charges brought against her.
“If she fails, the court will issue a bench warrant against her”, the judge warned.
Further hearing is fixed for February 16, 2023, for the banker’s arraignment.