21st November, 2017
Akin Kuponiyi
Two men, Chester Ukandu and Achi George who allegedly claim to be directors of Mainstream Bank Registrar were on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over impersonation.
They were arraigned on two counts charge of conspiracy and forgery.
In a criminal charge number FHC /L/424c/2017, filed before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC prosecutor, Mr Ayokunle Fayanju, it was alleged that the two accused persons had on February 21, 2017, within the jurisdiction of the court, held themselves out as directors of Mainstream Bank Registrar Limited, vide a letter dated February 14, 2017, addressed to the Manager, Skye Bank Plc, Ilupeju branch, Lagos, captioned “Appointment of New Signatories to the account of Mainstream Bank Registrars Limited.” The letter was personally signed by them.
They were also alleged to have on the same date addressed a letter captioned ‘Notification about the change in the board and management of the Mainstream Bank Registrars Limited’, to the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission, Abuja.
The offences alleged to have been committed by the defendants are contrary to sections 244(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Cap. C20, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 244(3) of the same Act.
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, urged the court to remand them in prison custody, pending the commencement of their trial.
However, their lawyer, Mr. Samuel Ague, urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
The lawyer told the court that he had just filed a bail application to that effect, and would wants court to grant them bail because of their statues in the country.
He told the court that the first accused, Chester, is a chairman of a Microfinance bank, and many other companies, while the second accused, is a well-respected man, adding that the two accused persons would not jump bail if granted.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Aikawa granted the two accused persons bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety each in like sum.
The judge also ordered that each surety must be a landed property owner in Ikoyi, Lekki, Ikeja and Victoria Island of the court’s jurisdiction, the original Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O)of such of the said landed property must be verified and deposited with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR).
He also ordered that the accused persons must report at the EFCC’s office every Monday.
However, he ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions, thereafter, he adjourned the case till December 12, 2017, for the trial.