N672m fraud: Court grants Lagos Speaker’s aide bail February 11, 2013 by Agency Reporter A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, on Monday granted bail to Oyebode Atoyebi, the Personal Assistant to the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, over alleged N672 million fraud. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Deborah Oluwayemi granted bail to Atoyebi, based on the bail earlier granted him by the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, on self-recognition. Oluwayemi had revoked Atoyebi’s bail, while the bail application for the first defendant, Olayinka Sanni, was refused. Sanni was also remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The duo of Atoyebi and Sanni, a former Regional Manager of Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank Plc), alongside a company, Sidaw Ventures, were arraigned on Jan. 25 on an eight-count charge. The charges include stealing, conspiracy, forgery and intent to defraud. They were alleged to have stolen N672 million belonging to Murhi International Ltd, a customer of the bank. The EFCC said the accused allegedly perpetrated the fraud between Sept. 22, 2010 and April 18, 2011. At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Oluwayemi granted Atoyebi bail on the condition earlier specified by the chief judge. Atoyebi’s lawyer, Mr Abiodun Onidare, thanked the judge for granting him bail. NAN also reports that the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, was, however, absent in court. The case has been adjourned to Feb. 14 for commencement of trial.