Alleged N670m fraud: Why I was not in court, by ex-Finbank MD

Former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Susan Iroche, who was charged before a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, for embezzling over N670 million has blamed her absence in court on non-serving of court processes.

She was charged along with former executive of the bank, Okey Nwosu, and former MD of defunct IMB International Bank, Sebastine Adigwe, on a three-count offence of stealing, forgery, perjury and making false statement as officials of a company.

The charge sheet stated that the alleged offence was committed between December 2002 and December 2009.

Lawyer to the defendants, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), told the court that the Prosecution failed to serve the defendant the court processes, which was the reason Iroche was not in court.

However, the prosecuting counsel, Tani Molajo (SAN), countered Osinbajo’s admission, informing the court that the defendant was served the court processes, sequel to report of the Court’s Sheriff indicating that all the defendants had been served.

He further said that there was no excuse for the defendant not to have been present in court.

Trial judge, Justice Christopher Balogun, noted that only Finbank (1st defendant) was present in court and counsel to Nwosu and Adigwe, Onyebuchi Aniakor, told the court that the prosecution had failed to comply with the order of the court directing it to serve the defendant with information in the alleged offence committed.

The matter was adjourned till January 11, 2012, for hearing of all preliminary applications.