A manager with WEMA Bank Plc, Mr. Ojo Oladipupo, has been arraigned before an Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly bribing a police officer, as inducement to pervert justice in an ongoing prosecution of WEMA Bank over N1.7bn alleged money laundering.
The banker was arraigned on Wednesday, before Magistrate O. A. Layinka, on the offences.
He however pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The Police alleged that the bank manager came to Area G Command and offered the officer, ASP Jonathan Egwumi, the money so as to scuttle investigations over alleged shady deals involving WEMA Bank and the Director of Shibahwell Energy Limited, Adewole Isaac, to the tune of over N1.7bn suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities.
It was alleged that when the manager, Oladipupo, who might have thought that he would have his way, offered the money, he was immediately arrested and detained at the Command for his conduct and later charged before the Court.
After the defendant’s plea of “not guilty to the charges, the prosecutor, Supol Lucky Ihiehie, asked the Court for a trial date, to enable the Police prove that the defendant actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Layinka, after granting bail to the defendant adjourned the case to April 11, for mention when the matter may likely be joined with the substantive matter before the Court, which warranted offering bribe to the Police officer.”