Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal office, on Tuesday October 15, 2019 arraigned one Akintunde Ogunrinde (a.k.a Kekere) before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, Benue State on a one-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and intent to defraud.
Ogunrinade is facing prosecution for allegedly using a United Bank for Africa (UBA) ATM card, belonging to one Ademola Adewuyi to withdraw the sum of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) without authorisation from an ATM machine.
Trouble started for Ogunrinde when the Makurdi Zonal Office of the EFCC received a petition, alleging that he and one Alhaji Baba (a.k.a. White now at large) used an ATM card belonging to the victim (Adewuyi) without authorisation to obtain the said sum from his account.
The charge reads: “That you Akintunde Ogunrinde (a.k.a. Kekere) sometime in 2019 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, used a UBA ATM card belonging to one Ademola Adewuyi to obtain the sum of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 33 (1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention,etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 33 (2) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua to ask for a trial date, while urging the court to remand him in prison custody. The defence counsel I. M. Mari, however, made an oral bail application for the defendant.
Justice Olajuwon granted him bail in the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) with one surety in like sum. The surety, however, must present a letter of identification to the court and evidence of tax clearance. He must also reside in Makurdi and must submit two recent passport photographs. The address of the surety must also be verified by the court registrar while the prosecutor must verify the documents the surety presents to the court.
He was remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions and the case adjourned till November 21, 2019.
