By Bimbo Ogunnaike
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned Omotola Fawehinmi before Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on a five-count charge of forgery and failure to carry out due diligence.
The trial of Omotola Fawehinmi, an employee of Zenith Bank Plc, who is standing trial for an alleged N700 million fraud, continued with the first prosecution witness, (PW1), Prosper Eyitayo, narrating how the defendant authorised the fraudulent transactions.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Omotola Fawehinmi, sometime in February, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, aided the forgery of a document titled “Transfer of funds via RTGS-1014152125,” dated 19th of June 2015 to the prejudice of Zenith Bank Plc, who in the belief that the said document was signed by Uka Chidi Udo, was induced to debit the account of Mobilng Huil Service Ltd to the tune of N394,916,175.66 (Three Hundred and Ninety -four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, Sixty -six Kobo) and you thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. CAP M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on August 1, 2019, thus setting the stage for the commencement of his trial.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Eyitayo told the court that the bank received some instructions to debit the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited with certain sums of money, which were confirmed by the defendant.
“Exhibit B1, comprises five transfer instructions, purportedly emanating from Mobilng Huil Services Limited that the bank relied on to move money out of the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited and these debit transactions are reflected in the Statement of Account in Exhibit A.
“In June 22, 2015, there was a debit in the account of Mobilng Huil Services Ltd in the sum of Three Hundred and Ninety-four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-five Naira, Sixty-six Kobo (N394,916,175.66),”Eyitayo said.
“Likewise, on the 31st of August 2015, there was a debit in the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited to the tune of One Hundred and Fifteen Million Naira (N115m). On the 28th of August 2015, there was a debit on the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited of One Hundred and Forty Million Naira (N140m).
“Also in September 2016, the sum of One Hundred Million (N100M) was debited from the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited.
“All these transactions were confirmed and authorised by the defendant, Omotola Fawenhimi,” he added.
The prosecuting counsel further told the court that the defendant was no more in the services of the bank, adding that he had been dismissed because of a case of fraud that was perpetrated on an account he was managing.
The matter has been adjourned for continuation of trial.
