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| High Court |
Victims of the N4 billion Enugu financial scam allegedly committed through a ‘Wonder Bank” today lamented the continuous adjournment of the case.A Federal High Court, Enugu, yesterday adjourned the matter till October 31 and November 6, 2018 for continuation of trial.
Leader of the victims of the alleged fraud, Dr. Nnabuchi Okwudili, who spoke with reporters shortly after the case was adjourned, called on the Federal Government and National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene and look into the continuous adjournment of the case.
He said since October 5, 2016 when the trial started, the trial judge, Dugbo R. O. Oghoghorie, had adjourned the matter till date, stressing that most of the victims had died of heart attack as a result of the fraud.
Okwudili said that while the accused was walking freely in the streets of Enugu enjoying himself with the sweat of the poor Nigerians, the victims of his atrocities were dying of hunger and penury.
The over 150 victims of the scam who thronged the court for the continuation of the hearing yesterday were disappointed as the court granted another adjournment after the accused person, Chief Patrick Nwokike, was arraigned and granted bail.
Nwokike, the Chief Executive Officer of the alleged ‘wonder bank’ was first arrested on October 5, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at his residence in Enugu following several petitions from the public after many depositors of the “bank’ could not access their initial deposit nor the dividends promised them.
The EFCC reportedly discovered that Nwokike and his wife, Rosemary, were the only signatories to over six accounts of the company in about four banks and that the company, “Let’s Partner with You Ltd,” has no licence to solicit and manage funds for the public.
The company was also discovered not to have registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
-Justice Kafarati sworn in as substantive Chief Judge of FHC-
Leader of the victims of the alleged fraud, Dr. Nnabuchi Okwudili, who spoke with reporters shortly after the case was adjourned, called on the Federal Government and National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene and look into the continuous adjournment of the case.
He said since October 5, 2016 when the trial started, the trial judge, Dugbo R. O. Oghoghorie, had adjourned the matter till date, stressing that most of the victims had died of heart attack as a result of the fraud.
Okwudili said that while the accused was walking freely in the streets of Enugu enjoying himself with the sweat of the poor Nigerians, the victims of his atrocities were dying of hunger and penury.
The over 150 victims of the scam who thronged the court for the continuation of the hearing yesterday were disappointed as the court granted another adjournment after the accused person, Chief Patrick Nwokike, was arraigned and granted bail.
Nwokike, the Chief Executive Officer of the alleged ‘wonder bank’ was first arrested on October 5, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at his residence in Enugu following several petitions from the public after many depositors of the “bank’ could not access their initial deposit nor the dividends promised them.
The EFCC reportedly discovered that Nwokike and his wife, Rosemary, were the only signatories to over six accounts of the company in about four banks and that the company, “Let’s Partner with You Ltd,” has no licence to solicit and manage funds for the public.
The company was also discovered not to have registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
-Justice Kafarati sworn in as substantive Chief Judge of FHC-
In another development, former Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Adamu Kafarati, has been sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge of the court.
Justice Kafarati, who had been on the acting capacity since April last year following the retirement of his predecessor, Justice Ibrahim Auta, was sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The new Chief Judge was appointed following his nomination by the NJC and subsequent approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the brief ceremony held at the Supreme Court premises yesterday, Justice Onnoghen urged the Chief Judge to adhere strictly to his oath of office and Constitution provisions.
The CJN also tasked him to be bold and courageous in the discharge of his duty.
In this article:
Justice Kafarati, who had been on the acting capacity since April last year following the retirement of his predecessor, Justice Ibrahim Auta, was sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The new Chief Judge was appointed following his nomination by the NJC and subsequent approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the brief ceremony held at the Supreme Court premises yesterday, Justice Onnoghen urged the Chief Judge to adhere strictly to his oath of office and Constitution provisions.
The CJN also tasked him to be bold and courageous in the discharge of his duty.
In this article: