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The scheduled
arraignment of seven people alleged to have duped Diamond Bank of N7.8
billion was stalled in Ibadan on Wednesday as the court could not sit
due to the absence of the presiding judge.

The accused –
former members of staff of Diamond Bank PLC, a female customer and her
three firms – were to be arraigned before the Federal High Court,
Ibadan, over a five-count charge of alleged granting of unsecured N7.8
billion facilities and money laundering.

Adesoji Adekunle,
Utienyen Obioru, AbdulAzeez Salau, Chukwuma Kalu, Gbolahan Ladoja and
Tokunbo Obayemi; Modupe Sobodu (customer) and her three firms: Dupsob
Nigeria Limited, Nukep Nigeria Limited and Mofadeb Investment Limited
were being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).

According to the
charge sheet, the accused were allegedly involved in granting the
customers “unsecured and unauthorized credit facilities to the tune of
N7.8 billion contrary to the Failed Banks (recovery of debts) and Other
Financial Malpractices in Banks Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria
2004.”

They were also
charged with ‘granting of credit facility against the security of
Diamond bank shares to the tune of N7.8 billion, an offence contrary to
the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act laws of Federation of
Nigeria 2007” as well as conspiracy to launder money contrary to
Section 17A of the Money laundering Act 2004.

On October 28, the
accused had secured the order of an Abuja High Court restraining the
EFCC from arresting, detaining or in any way interfering with the
fundamental human rights of five former bankers.

Second trial

The court’s order
was premised on a motion on notice filed by Afe Babalola on behalf of
Utieyin Obioru, Chikwuma Kalu, Tokunbo Obayemi, Gbolahan Ladoja and
Adesoji Adekunle for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights
by the court.

Following a
petition from the bank’s management, the accused were arrested in Lagos
by the EFCC on March 16 and were taken to the commission’s headquarters
in Abuja where they were detained till March 23.

The commission rearrested the accused and brought them to Ibadan for arraignment on Wednesday.

The accused were
brought to the court but were returned to Lagos yesterday by the
commission’s operatives, as the court has rescheduled the arraignment
for next week.