Andrew Warri who was accused of defrauding Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, of the sum of N125 million will know his fate on July 5, 2022.
The trial judge, Sherifat Solebo fixed the date to rule on the No-Case Submission of the defence counsel.
Andrew Warri is standing trial before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a seven-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques .
Andrew Warri was arraigned alongside two companies A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited and Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited on June 25, 2021 for allegdly defrauding GTBank of about N125 million.
“Andrew Warri, A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, sometime in May 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N125,000,000 from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc under the guise that the proceeds of the Rural Health Care and Referral contract with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be domiciled in your account with Guaranty Trust Bank, the said pretense you knew, or ought to have known is false.”
One of the charges against the defendants was that they issued a Dud cheque to the tune of N10,000,000 in favour of Zenith Bank, the said cheque was dishonored on the ground that there was no sufficient fund.
“Andrew Warri, Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited, on or about 28th October 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued a Zenith Bank cheque for the sum of N10,000,000 payable to A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, in favour of Guaranty Trust Bank, which upon presentation for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to your credit.”
He denied the charges.
He was released on bail in the sum of N25 million following the application by his Counsel, Nelson Imoh.
It would be recalled that Andrew Warri was placed on watch-list of the DSS, Immigration, Customs and other local and international law enforcement agencies before his arrest was effected.
Midway into his trial, the defendant changed his legal team and moved his bail application in July 2021, which though was opposed to by the prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, was granted by the Court in the sum of N25million with two sureties in like sum and engaged the services of A.M. Makinde, SAN, who filed a no case submission.
Following argument for and against by both parties written addresses were adopted and the presiding judge adjourned for ruling.
