The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today get the date for the trial of 16 bank executives and 68 debtors in its custody, it was learnt yesterday.

The commission also yesterday declared Mrs. Nananshettu Bedell (a one-time nanny to one of the children of Mrs. Cecilia Ibru) and an Abuja businessman, Mr. Dele Oye, wanted.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), flew into the country at about 4am yesterday. He is to attend to the EFCC’s request for a fiat to prosecute the ex-bank executives and debtors.

A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, said: "We are going to a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday for a date for the commencement of the trial of the ex-bank executives and some of the debtors.

"The Office of the AGF has given us the backing for the trial of the suspects. Now, we are at the mercy of the court to know when to arraign the suspects. All I can tell you is that we will arraign them in court anytime this week and, most probably on Tuesday."

On debt recovery, the source added: "The EFCC chairman is returning to Lagos on Monday to take charge of recovery. More debtors are willing to pay back.

"But those still defaulting will be arrested and their assets confiscated, pending the conclusion of their trial."

But the President of the West African Bar Association, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday said the EFCC needed no go-ahead from the AGF to prosecute the suspects.

He said the anti-graft commission’s application to the AGF was unnecessary, going by a decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Falana said: "Once a statutory agency is clothed with prosecutorial powers, it does not need the fiat of the AGF to institute any criminal proceeding in Nigeria.

"That was the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Osahon Osahon vs. the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Incidentally, it was a former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in his capacity as a police officer, who instituted a case in court without the authority of the AGF. But Ribadu’s action was challenged by the office of the AGF and the apex court declared that any agency with prosecutorial powers does not need any fiat from the AGF.

"However, the AGF has the right to take over such a criminal case either to continue it or discontinue it.

"When the AGF attempted, during Ribadu’s tenure, to have all the cases instituted through his office, he drew the attention of the Federal Government to the decision of the Supreme Court. And the government stopped the AGF from intervening or usurping the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC. So, the anti-graft commission does not need AGF’s fiat at all."

An EFCC source, who pleaded not to be named, said: "We applied for fiat because we don’t want to take chances. Whether we like it or not, the AGF has constitutional powers over criminal matters.

"We do not want to rush to court without the AGF’s consent because we are dealing with privileged suspects who have the means to fight a prolonged legal battle.

"We took our time to follow due process instead of a legally discretionary step to avoid any lacuna in the prosecution of the suspects. We don’t want to be caught unawares by any legal loophole."

Also yesterday, the EFCC declared the Chairman, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oye and Mrs. Bedell wanted in connection with the on going investigation in banking.

The suspects were declared wanted through a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi.

The statement reads in part: "Both suspects who are close associates of the former MD/ CEO of Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, are wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and money laundering running into billions of naira.

"The suspects were declared wanted after all efforts to get them to honour the commission’s invitation failed.

"The commission enjoins anyone with useful information that could lead to their arrest to contact any of its offices in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Enugu."

A source in the commission said: "We are after Oye because findings have revealed that he was allegedly used as a front for Cecilia Ibru.

"A company, Waste Project Nigeria Limited, was owned by some the children of Cecilia Ibru. But in 2007, these children relinquished their shares in the company and Oye took total charge. Despite the divestment of their shares, our investigation revealed that the company was used to siphon money abroad.

"As for Mrs. Bedell, she used to be a nanny to Cecilia Ibru’s eldest son, Oboden. She was then known as Nananshettu Abdulahi. She is number 13 on CBN’s list of debtors.

"We are after her because she got non-performing loans worth N14 to N15billion from Oceanic Bank International Plc. But most of the loans were without strong collaterals."

Ehoi:

Does this nanny really exist?

Ehoi:

Does this nanny really exist?

Cherechy:

Poor girl. The nanny might jst be one poor gwari girl somewhere with no knowledge of what's going on. Her madam jst used her as a front. Poor girl. I wish i cud giv her legal representation. lol

smooooooth:

i can now imagine the names on the debtors list.

1. one time driver 10billion
2. one time cook 50billion
3. one time pet trainer 25billion
4. one time washerman 13billion

i can now imagine the names on the debtors list.

1. one time driver                10billion
2. one time cook                  50billion
3. one time pet trainer         25billion
4. one time washerman       13billion

kennyaribs:

I think all these people don't know anything about this. The main culprit behind this is Cecilia Ibru. How can a rationale human being believe these set of people (not commonizing them anyway) would be given billions as loan? How are they going to pay back in respect to their income? What about the qualateral? what do they have?

So i believe Cecilia Ibru just made use of their names to grant the loans for her selfish use. No wonder she fainted in the court on the 31st of August, 2009 during the trial.

kennyaribs:

I think all these people don't know anything about this. The main culprit behind this is Cecilia Ibru. How can a rationale human being believe these set of people (not commonizing them anyway) would be given billions as loan? How are they going to pay back in respect to their income? What about the qualateral? what do they have?

So i believe Cecilia Ibru just made use of their names to grant the loans for her selfish use. No wonder she fainted in the court on the 31st of August, 2009 during the trial.

boomtowner:

[b]MENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN MRS CECILIA IBRU,13 BILLION NAIRA LOAN TO A NANNY TO SUPPLY T-SHIRTS AND FACE CAPS,ME I M GOING TO BREAK PEOPLES HEAD OO,I M A SHAREHOLDER AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE USING MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO DO, NOT EVEN A NIGERIAN A GHANIAN FOR THAT MATTER. LOOK SISSYOR CECE WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS IF YOU FINISH WITH EFCC YOU HAVE CASE TO ANSWER TO US THE SHARE HOLDERS AND IT'S NT GOING TO BE FUNNY.[/b]