The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a 34-year-old man, Innocent Okeke, at an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly seeking to defraud a bank by offering its officials fake currency.
Okeke was arraigned on five counts of unlawful possession, fraud, forgery and altering.
He was said to have been found with four fake pieces of €500 notes and three fake pieces of €100 notes.
The police said Okeke presented the fake currencies at the Orile branch of Guarantee Trust Bank on September 20, 2013 for the naira equivalent.
The management of the bank, having suspected that the currencies were not genuine, alerted security agents who arrested the defendant.
The prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, said, “When he was questioned as to how he came about them, he was unable to give satisfactory explanations.”
He was thereafter arrested and arraigned.
The charges read in part, “That you, Innocent Okeke, and others at large, on the 20 September, 2013 at about 12.25hrs, at GT Bank, Odunlade branch, Orile Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, did make false document to wit; suspected fake currency notes (Euros) and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of the management of GTBank and members of the public.”
The prosecutor said the offences were punishable under Sections 410, 327, 409, 363(2)(a)(b)(3)(g), 360 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.
When his plea was to be taken, Okeke raised his hand and asked to speak with the magistrate.
Then he said, “Before I take my plea, can I see the currency first?”
Everyone in the court room erupted into laughter.
The magistrate, Mr. O.O Olatunji, however insisted that the defendant take his plea.
He thereafter pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, F.S. Osordi, asked that he be granted bail in liberal terms.
Olatunji granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till November 14, 2013
Punch
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