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The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, November 12, 2020, arraigned
a lawyer, Taiwo Oreagba, before Justice Sherifat 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 to the tune of N4,000,000.00( Four Million
Naira).
The defendant, who is a counsel to one Kelechi Uka currently
under investigation by the Commission, allegedly collected the sum
of N4, 000,000.00(Four Million Naira) from one Henry Umoh
supposedly to influence officers of the Commission to secure the
release of her client( Uka).
Count one 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.”
Count two 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 , with
intent to defraud , received the sum of N4, 000,000. 00( Four
million Naira) through your business name account known as Bobcom
Enterprises from one George Henry
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Umoh by falsely representing to him that the money was meant for
officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
investigating the case against the said Kelechi Uka, which
representation you knew to be false.”
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 N100,000.00( One Hundred Thousand
Naira), 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.