A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared a Keystone Bank employee, Ebele Bernadine Okpala, wanted over her alleged involvement in a N35 million fraud case.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu also directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest Okpala upon her return to Nigeria, following information before the court that she is currently outside the country.
The orders were made after the court granted an ex parte application marked FHC/L/530C/2024, filed by the Nigeria Police and argued by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) M. Y. Bello.
In the application, Okpala was listed as the first defendant, 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, Bello told the court that it was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction. He added that the application was supported by an affidavit sworn to by Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
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After considering the application and the supporting affidavit, Justice Dipeolu held that the prosecution had established sufficient grounds to warrant the reliefs sought.
The court consequently ordered that 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 assist law enforcement agencies in apprehending her immediately she enters the country.
In addition, the court authorised the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit to publish the defendant’s name in national newspapers and on social media platforms for the purpose of enforcing the arrest order.
Okpala and Onyeto were previously arraigned before the Federal High Court by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit in September 2024.
The prosecution alleged that the two bankers conspired to commit offences bordering on theft, money laundering, fraudulent removal of a lien placed on a customer’s bank account and obtaining N35 million by false pretence.
