The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, arraigned one Keshinro Babatunde, a former Head, Commercial Banking of one of the first generation banks, (name withheld) before Justice O. A. Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a nine-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira).
One of the counts reads: “That you, Keshinro Babatunde, on or about 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly converted to your own use the total sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) , property of Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Oseni, thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11,2015.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Bilikis Buhari, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS.
Counsel to the defendant, S. Ehizoge, informed the court of a pending application on behalf of his client.
Justice Taiwo, in her ruling, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5,000,000.00, with two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be an employee of the Lagos State government, while the other must be a relation to the defendant resident in Lagos.
The Judge also directed that evidence of identification of the sureties must be provided to the court.
Justice Taiwo adjourned the case till April 9, 2020 for commencement of trial and also remanded the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Service, pending the perfection of his bail condition.