The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken over the trial of Mr. Chinenye Duru, a Polaris Bank staff member and account officer to Mr. Victor Onukogu, in connection with an alleged N6.6 billion fraud case.
AGF’s counsel, V.J. Alma, informed Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja that Fagbemi, using his authority under Section 174(1)(b) of the Constitution (as amended), had decided to assume control of the case. Alma stated that although the trial was scheduled to continue, the AGF had directed this new course of action.
“We have notified the Nigerian police of this development and have requested the original case file in a letter dated May 29, 2024,” Alma said, noting that they were still awaiting the original file.
Justice Ekwo confirmed if the court had been formally informed, to which Alma responded affirmatively. Alma requested the court to set a new trial date after the vacation period. Justice Ekwo advised Duru’s lawyer, Chief Chidi Ezenwafor, to ensure that Polaris Bank, the first defendant, had legal representation in the case.
Ezenwafor suggested that Alma should apply for a date for the mention of the case rather than a trial, but the judge responded, “There is no harm in giving a date for trial.” Consequently, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to November 18 and 19 for trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector-General of Police had arraigned Duru on January 19 on an 11-count charge. Duru pleaded not guilty to all counts, and the judge ordered his remand in a correctional facility pending his bail application hearing.
The I-G of Police is the complainant in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/603/2023, with Polaris Bank Plc and Duru listed as the first and second defendants, respectively.
The charges include allegations that Polaris Bank and Duru, between November 17, 2017, and August 14, 2023, fraudulently withdrew N16 billion and N500 million from Mr. Onukogu Victor Hezekiah’s accounts. These acts, among others detailed in the charges, allegedly contravene Sections 21(a) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Other counts include the alleged withdrawal of N75.534 million from Onukogu’s account number 4010023601 and N13.3 million from Hezekiah University’s account number 40910106770 without authorization, violating the Money Laundering Act.
Mr. Onukogu, also known as Daddy Hezekiah, is the spiritual head of Living Christ Mission Church, Onitsha in Anambra.
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