A staff of Eco Bank Plc, Oniegho-Areh Thomson charge with conspiracy and stealing of one million naira by the police before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, Oyingbo has asked the court to dismissed the charges levelled against him.
Thomson make the request through his lawyer, Mr. Oluseyi Olukoga at the resumption of his trial before Magistrate F. Ikobayo (Mrs).
When the matter came up, the prosecutor, Inspector Haruna was said to be indisposed, the situation which made counsel to the defendant to urge the court, to discharge his client of the case.
Also addressing the court on the absence of the prosecutor, Mr. Adewale Fadipe, counsel to the complainant said contrary to the submission of defendant’s counsel, the case is not up to five years, it was instituted in 2017 and since the case has been coming up, the complainant never missed proceedings.
“I spoke with the prosecutor and he told me that he will be going for a seminar today, it is on this ground that, we shall be asking for an adjournment”.
Ruling on the application, Magistrate Ikobayo turned down the application to discharge the banker adding that he cannot discharge the defendant now because the Police lawyer is not in court today and which he has been coming each time the matter came up.
Before adjourning the matter till February 10, 2020, for further hearing, Magistrate Ikobayo, urged parties to informed prosecutor of the next adjourned date.
Oniegho-Areh, who works with the Apapa branch of the bank, is facing two count charge of conspiracy and alleged stealing of N1 million, belonging to Dr. Majaron Stanley.The banker and others now at large, were alleged to have committed the offence on April 21, 2015 at about 10.00hrs at Randle Road, Apapa, Lagos
The offences according to the prosecution contravened sections 409 and 278(a)(b) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.
The banker was first arraigned before Magistrate J. O. A. Adepeju (Mrs) of Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island, on March 21, 2017 before it was later transferred to Ebute-Metta District of the Court, early this year.
