THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, said it has charged a former staff of a new generation bank, Mr Yemi-Aris Olaniran, to court for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N78.52 million.
This was contained in statement by the commission`s spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, a copy of which was made available to Tribune Online in Abuja.
The commission, according to the statement, in a 24 count-charge preferred against the ex-banker before Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court 10, Maitama, Abuja, accused him of allegedly transferring N78, 521, 431.61 from the Federal Government Pension funds into private accounts held by non-pensioners in contravention of Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering Act 2011.
“The alleged offence is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”, the statement added.
It further stated that the counsel to the commission, Mr Adesina Raheem, told the court that Mr Olaniyan, while working as a staff of a new generation bank, Gwagwalada-Abuja, between October 2011 and March 2013, surreptitiously opened 50 bank accounts into which he made several transfers of funds.
“The alleged funds ranged from N1million to N11. 2million,” it said.
The statement said further that the commission had earlier arraigned Mr Olaniyan before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court 7, Maitama-Abuja, but had to seek for the transfer of the case to another trial judge due to the criminal charges preferred against Ademola by the Federal Government.
It stated that Mr Raheem held that the ex-banker, in one instance opened an account in the name of Ibrahim Nurudeen, and transferred the sum of N11, 248, 439.52.
“He was also alleged to have in another illegal transaction, wired N9.58 million from the Federal Government pension account into a Skye bank account in the name of Umar Abdullahi who was not a registered pensioner”, it added.
The charge sheet reads in part, “That you Yemi-Aris Olaniran, between October 2011 and March 2013 at Gwagwalada Abuja whilst being a staff of that bank directly transferred the sum of N11, 248, 439.52 belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria to an account opened in the name of one Ibrahim Nurudeen when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds were the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended”.
“Mr Olaniran pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him as his counsel, Mr Ojo Olugbemiga, urged the court to allow his earlier bail to remain.
“The trial judge, in his ruling, ordered that his bail should continue and adjourned the matter to April 11, 2017 for hearing,” the statement said.