A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared a Keystone Bank employee, Mrs. Ebele Bernadine Okpala, wanted over her alleged involvement in a ₦35 million fraud case.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who presided over the matter, also directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest the banker upon her return to Nigeria, following reports that she is currently outside the country.
The order was granted after the court heard an ex parte motion marked FHC/L/530C/2024, filed by the Nigeria Police and moved by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) M. Y. Bello.
Mrs. Okpala was listed as the first defendant in the suit, while another banker, Perpetual Onyeto, was named as the second defendant. The DSS, NIS and NCS were joined as cited parties to assist in enforcing the court’s orders.
While moving the application, CSP Bello informed the court that the motion was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and supported by an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
After reviewing the application and the accompanying affidavit, Justice Dipeolu held that the prosecution had established sufficient grounds to warrant the reliefs sought.
The court subsequently ordered that Mrs. Okpala be declared wanted and placed on the wanted list of the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit until her arrest.
The judge further directed the DSS, NIS and NCS to apprehend her immediately she re-enters Nigeria.
In addition, the court authorised the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit to publish her name and wanted status in national newspapers and across its official social media platforms to facilitate her arrest.
The case stems from allegations that Mrs. Okpala and her co-defendant were involved in conspiracy, theft, money laundering, the fraudulent removal of a lien placed on a customer’s bank account, and obtaining ₦35 million by false pretence.
The two bankers were initially arraigned before the Federal High Court in September 2024 by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit over the alleged offences.
The matter is expected to continue upon the arrest of the first defendant and further proceedings before the court.
