A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared a Keystone Bank employee, Mrs. Ebele Okpala, wanted over her alleged involvement in a ₦35 million fraud.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu made the order after granting an ex parte application filed by the Nigeria Police through its counsel, M. Bello.
The application, marked FHC/L/530C/2024, also directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest Okpala upon her return to Nigeria.
According to the application, Okpala, listed as the first defendant, and another banker, Perpetual Onyeto, listed as the second defendant, are facing allegations bordering on fraud.
The motion was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that the application had merit and granted all the reliefs sought by the prosecution.
The court ordered that Okpala be declared wanted and placed on the wanted list of the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, until she is apprehended.
The judge also directed the DSS, NIS and NCS to assist in arresting the defendant upon her arrival in the country.
In addition, the court granted leave to the police to publish Okpala’s name and wanted status in national newspapers and on its social media platforms to facilitate her arrest.
The prosecution informed the court that the first defendant is believed to be outside Nigeria.
The police had earlier arraigned Okpala and Onyeto before the court in September 2024 on charges of conspiracy, theft, money laundering, fraudulent removal of a lien placed on a customer’s bank account, and allegedly obtaining ₦35 million by false pretence.
The matter is expected to continue after the execution of the court’s orders.
