The continued absence of Mrs. Tosin Lawal, an Ikeja Branch Manager of ECOBANK over allegations of breach of trust, stealing and corrupt enrichment, by pilfering customers’ lodgments to the tune of two hundred million naira earned the police a strong scolding from a Fedreal High Court Judge sitting in Lagos on Wednesday.
The accused and her husband, Michael Lawal, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of customer’s money under her control at the Ikeja branch of the bank.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, the accused persons could not be arraigned as the prosecutor, Mr Nosa Ununwogho, informed the court that the first accused was still in the EFCC’s custody.
“We granted the accused persons administrative bail on Sept. 30 but we were informed by their surety that the first accused (Tosin) was taken into custody by the EFCC.
“If we do not get the order, then there is nothing we can do. The EFCC has a different Act which set it up. It is not under the police so we cannot give it orders,’’ the prosecutor said.
Counsel to the accused persons, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), urged the court to ask the police to produce the first accused person as she was last seen at the police premises.
“The EFCC cannot be law onto itself, the prosecution in this case and the EFCC are both establishments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the accused is being detained for the same matter the police had already investigated,’’ he said.
He contended that the fundamental right of his client was being violated as she had been detained for more than 45 days.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke, in his ruling, ordered the police to produce the first accused person on Nov. 18 for arraignment.