Court grants prosecutor`s request to freeze suspect's bank account
October 31, 2012 16:27
NAN-H-93
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Abuja, Oct. 31, 2012 (NAN) An Abuja Upper Area Court on Wednesday granted the oral application of the prosecution to freeze the bank account of one Stephen Okafor, who allegedly masterminded the theft of a vehicle.
The police prosecutor, Mr Echedu Kelechi, said the vehicle belonged to one Chinedu Okafor.
Two other accused, Abdul-Rafiu Usman, 35, and Olu Kolawole, 50, are facing trial in the matter.
Kelechi said that freezing the account as well as arresting Okafor, who is the third accused, and who is now at large, would help the police to carry out an investigation successfully.
He urged the court to apply Section 36 sub (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Sections 143 to 148 of the Criminal Procedure Code which allow the court to order a bank to freeze an account.
He said the other two accused arraigned in court were standing trial on a three-count charge of joint act, theft and cheating.
Kelechi said the offences contravened sections 79, 288 and 322 of the Penal Code.
The prosecutor said Mr Chinedu Okafor reported the case to the Dutse Alhaji Police Station, Abuja on Oct. 23.
He said the accused conspired and stole a Toyota Carina E car belonging to the complainant, adding that the two accused were the facilitators of the sale of the vehicle.
According to him, the accused sold the said vehicle at N920,000 but that only N550,000 was recovered from them.
The two accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
In his submission, their counsel, Mr Oare Okhakhume, prayed the court to grant the accused bail, saying that they would not jump bail.
He also said that the accused had reasonable sureties to take them on bail and urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.
In his ruling, the judge, Mr Lawal Mannir, granted the two accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each and a surety each who resides within the jurisdiction of the court.
Mannir also ordered the police to facilitate the arrest of the first accused and adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for hearing. (NAN).
AMU/LDA/OLA
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