An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday reserved ruling until July 5, in a no-case submission by one Andrew Warri charged with attempted N125 million fraud against Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Warri is charged alongside two companies – A.M. Projects Consultancy Ltd. and Ranez Medical Consultancy Ltd.
He pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge.
Counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Franklin Ofoma, had closed the case of the commission, which is prosecuting Warri.
He presented three witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove EFCC’s case against the defendant.
EFCC had said that the defendant was placed on watch-list of the Department of State Security, Immigration, Customs and other local and international law enforcement agencies before he was arrested.
The defendant changed his counsel in the course of his trial by engaging Mr Adedokun Makinde (SAN) as his new counsel.
Makinde filed a no-case submission in favour of the defendant.
On Thursday, both parties adopted their written addresses with defence counsel arguing that the defendant had no-case to answer.
EFCC, however, urged the court to hold that a prima facie case had been established against the defendant.
It prayed the court to order him to open his defence.
Justice Sherifat Solebo adjourned the case until July 5, for ruling on the no-case submission.
EFCC alleges that the defendant attempted to defraud GTB of N125 million on the pretext that proceeds of Rural Health Care and Referral contract with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would be domiciled in his account with the bank. (NAN)
