N8bn scam: CBN staff go from posh office to detention cell

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) involved in the N8 billion currency scam are to go from their posh offices to detention cells, as a Federal High Court in Ibadan has denied them bail, and ordered that they be remanded.

Justice Ayo Emmanuel remanded the six CBN officials who were arraigned for stealing and circulating mutilated Naira notes meant for destruction by the apex bank.

The six — Patience Okoro, Afolabi Johnson, Ilori Sunday, Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Fatai Yusuf — were arraigned by the EFCC, charged for conspiracy, diversion and stealing of mutilated naira notes worth N8bn.

They were also accused of replacing the mutilated currencies with cut-to-size newspapers and converting the money to their personal use.

Others charged alongside the CBN officials were Kayode Philips, Salami Ibrahim and Odiah Emmanuel. They were charged with conspiracy with other officials of CBN and other banks.

Two others-Roy Akinsiku and O. Sobowale-were said to be at large.

Counsels for the accused persons made oral applications for bail but the judge refused the applications and ordered that the accused be remanded in the EFCC office or at the Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku Police Division, Ibadan.

Justice Emmanuel has also fixed Tuesday, June 9, 2015 for argument of the written bail applications and fixed July 6 and 7, 2015 for the commencement of trial.

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