N10m Fraud: Court Dismisses No-Case Submission, Orders Ex Banker To Open Defence

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday July 13, 2022, dismissed the no-case submission brought before the court by one Babatunde Keshinro, a former head, Commercial Banking with one of the first generation banks in Nigeria and ordered him to open his defence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Keshinro on a nine-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N10million.

One of the counts reads,“That you, Keshinro Babatunde, on or about 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly converted to your own use the total sum of N10 million, property of Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Oseni, thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11,2015.”

He pleaded  ‘not guilty’ to the charges when he was arraigned on February 25, 2020.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence to prove the case against him.

However, upon the closure of the prosecution’s case, the defendant opted to file a no-case submission arguing that the prosecution had not made a prima facie case against him.

Delivering ruling on the no-case submission, Justice Taiwo held that,  “The evidence of the prosecution links the defendant to the charges and there are certain facts that require explanation from the defendant, and so call upon the defendant for his defence.”

The case was thereafter adjourned till September 29, 2022 “for defence”.