EFCC arraigns businessman for alleged $177,000 theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned a businessman, Anthony Okpala, for allegedly stealing $177,000.

Okpala was arraigned alongside his company, Mashuchun International Limited, on two counts bordering on stealing on Wednesday

The anti-graft agency alleged that Okpala sometime in August 2014 converted to his own use the sum of $177,000 belonging to Ibrahim Tsafe and Ibrahim Zango.

The EFCC prosecutor, A.B.C. Ozioko, said the offences contravened sections 278 (1) and 285 (1) and 9(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

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The prosecution said the defendant committed the offence around August 11, 2014, in Lagos.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the plea of the defendant, Ozioko requested for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility while the defence counsel, Kolapo Gbadamosi, informed the court of a bail application.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, noted that the bail application would be heard at the next adjourned date

She said, “The defendant should be remanded at any correctional facility service of his choice pending the hearing of the bail application.”

She adjourned the matter till May 15, 2020, for trial.