Surety lands in prison over ex-Diamond Bank staff's escape

PRISON

Prison inmate

Prison inmate

Paul Iyoghojie

A 41-year old businessman, Macarthur Afamefuna has been arrested by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU in Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly failing to produce a suspect, Emeka Jideofor, a former staff of Diamond Bank in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, he stood in as a surety in a N40 million bail bond at the command to secure his release.

A Police source alleged that the Commissioner of Police, CP in charge of the PSFU in Lagos, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde directed his team led by ASP Sikiru Babalola to arrest the Surety following his inability to produce the fleeing banker before the police as promised.

Police alleged that the fleeing former Diamond Bank staff was being investigated for allegedly defrauding a customer of Diamond Bank of the sum of N43 million before he fled.

The customer, according to the police had entrusted the N43m in the care of the fleeing banker to save in his fixed account in the bank, but instead he allegedly converted the money to his use without the knowledge of the management of the bank.

Afamefuna was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of felony to wit, obstructing, preventing and perverting the course of justice.

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Police Counsel, Nosa Uhumwangho informed the court in charge No L/67/2018 that the accused committed the offence on 25 January, 2016 at the Police Special Fraud Unit,Ikoyi, Lagos.

Uhumwangho told the court that the accused stood as a surety for Emeka Jideofor in a N40 million bail bond who was being investigated for allegedly defrauding a customer of Diamond bank, Enugu branch of the sum of N43 million with a promise to always produce the fleeing suspect anytime he was needed for interrogation, but instead the accused assisted the former banker to escaped.

Uhumwangho said that the accused was arrested and charged to court to show why he would not forfeit the N40 million bail bond he signed for the release of the fleeing banker to the Lagos State Government since he could not produce the suspect in accordance with sections 97 and 132 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the open court and Magistrate M.O Open Agbe granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Ope Agbe adjourned the case till 5 November, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos till he was able to perfect the bail conditions.

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