8th October, 2010
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, this afternoon sentenced the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank International Plc, Dr. Cecilia Ibru to 18 months imprisonment in a plea bargaining arraignment.
However, the convicted banker will spend only six months in the prison as she was convicted six months each on a three-count charge. And the sentences are to run concurrently.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kola Awodehin, told the court that there was an agreement between the prosecution and the accused person which has involved a formal agreement which he filed before the court asking it under order 17 of the Federal High Court Act and section 6(6) of the Constitution which enjoined the court to promote reconciliation among parties to facilitate amicable settlement in civil and criminal cases. Therefore, he urged the court invoke such power.
Awodehin further told the court that it is the desire of the prosecution to amend the charges that have been filed in the matter by applying to withdraw all the charges with the exception of three charges which are counts: 14, 17 and 23. Thereafter the accused was freed on the other charges.
She pleaded guilty to the three-count charge. She was consequently sentenced.
Her lawyer, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), pleaded that she was coming from the hospital to the court.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Dan Abutu sentenced Mrs. Ibru and directed that she should be returned to the hospital.
—Akin Kuponiyi