Justice Nathaniel Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, today dismissed the bail application brought by six former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The accused persons – Patience Okoro Eye, Afolabi Olufemi Johnson, Ilori Adekunle Sunday Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Fatai Adedokun Yusuf – are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for over N8 billion mutilated currency recycling fraud.

Justice Emmanuel, in dismissing their application for bail, stated that the interest of the accused must not only be considered while looking at their application but that of the common man and the society.

He said that the court was refusing the accused persons bail because of the gravity of the offence which borders on the economy and well-being of the people of the country.

The judge dismissed their application and ordered for accelerated hearing. He also warned counsel that he would not entertain frivolous applications.

The accused persons were arraigned June 2 on a 28-count charge bordering on fraud and stealing. Specifically, the former apex bank employees are alleged to have compromised the CBN’s briquette exercise, meant to combat the inflationary spiral in the economy, occasioned by excess dirty notes. Justice Emmanuel adjourned the matter till July 6 and 7 for trial.

The judge today similarly dismissed the bail application brought by three former staff of CBN and two staff of Sterling Bank.

The accused, namely, Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philips (all former staff of the CBN) and Salami Ibrahim and Oddiah Emmanuel (both staff of Sterling Bank Plc), were arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

They are alleged to have defrauded their banks various sums of money totaling N1,141,303,300 using various guises and pretences.

Justice Emmanuel adjourned the case to July 6 and 7, 2015 for trial.

It was the same situation in the case involving Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Toogun Kayode Philips (ex-CBN staff) and Tope Akintade, (staff of Ecobank Plc) who were docked on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing to the tune of N910,210,100.00.

Justice Emmanuel dismissed their bail applications for lack of merit and ordered for an accelerated hearing.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows some of the accused rogue bankers.

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