EFCC arraigns 4 for buying fake naira notes, dollar travellers cheque

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Mark Obisean, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, and Goodluck Bazunu before of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on an amended 11-count charge bordering on purchase of forged bank notes and possession of forged United States dollars travellers cheque.

The four defendants were re-arraigned before Justice I.O. Ijelu on Thursday.

One of the counts read: “Mark Obisean, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, Goodluck Bazunu, and Josiah Ntekume (at large) sometime in 2018 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, received and have in your possession forged United States Dollars Travellers Cheque number GA908-981-564.”

Another count read: “Mark Obisean, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, Goodluck Bazunu, and Josiah Ntekume (at large), sometime in 2018 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division ,conspired to purchase, received, and have in your possession forged United States travellers cheques.”

They however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

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Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, N.K. Ukoha, prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution call its witnesses and tender relevant documents to prove the case against them.

Counsel for the first defendant, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, informed the court of the bail application filed on behalf of his client, arguing that his client “does not constitute a flight-risk”.

Counsel for the other defendants, however, has no formal bail applications before the court for the court to hear and rule on.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Ijelu granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge further held that the other defendants have no formal applications before it.

They were, therefore, returned to the correctional centre, while Justice Ijelu adjourned the case till April 3, 4, and 5, 2023 for trial.

The defendants were earlier arraigned before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja in February 2022.

However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Solebo in November 2022.

The case was later re-assigned to Justice Ijelu.

The Star