Pascal Arogorn Ibe
A lawyer, Taiwo Oreagba, was on Thursday, November 12 arraigned before Justice Sherifah Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt demand and obtaining by false pretence the sum of N4 million.
The Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigning Oreagba, said she claimed to use the money to bribe its officials in order to secure the release of her client, one Kelechi Uka, from the commission’s custody.
Uka is currently under investigation by the EFCC.
Oreagba, who is a counsel to Uka was said to have collected the sum of N4 million from one Henry Umoh supposedly to influence officers of the commission to secure the release of her client.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Taiwo Oreagba, on or about the 2nd of March, 2020 in Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court , whilst acting as counsel to one Kelechi Uka, asked for and received the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) through your business name account known as Bobcom Enterprises from one Henry George Umoh on the understanding that the money was meant to influence officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in order to secure the release of the said Kelechi Uka from custody.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.
In view of her plea, the prosecuting counsel, G.C. Akaogu, asked the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Custodial Centre.
Counsel to the defendant, J.R. Kuforiji, told the court of an impending application for bail dated October 14, 2020, which she said had been served on the prosecution.
After listening to both parties, Justice Solebo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surely in like sum.
The surety must show evidence of residence in Lagos.
The case was adjourned till January 13 and 14, 2021 for commencement of trial.
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