The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal office on Monday, July 30th, arraigned one Florence Okorie before justice H.O. Eya of the State High Court on a three count charge bordering on stealing by converting the sum of N3,320,000.00 from one Mr Nnaemeka Nnamani, while being the cashier of Nice & Cool Hotel.
Sometimes in 2016, information reached the complainant that the accused, Florence Okorie of Obeagu Amechi, Awkunanaw, Enugu State, who had worked in his hotel as a cashier for eight years had all the while, been converting the hotel’s proceeds to her personal use.
The compalianant decided to place close supervision on her and precisely on 14th Dec, 2016 he received a call that the accused was in bank making transaction and he quickly went to meet her.
On reaching the bank, the petitioner discovered that the defendant had deposited the sum of 300,000 into her personal account and when asked the source of the money she said it was given to her by somebody she could not reveal, hence the petition to EFCC.
Further investigations by the Commission revealed that though the defendant was paid N7,000 (Seven Thousand Naira) monthly as salary at inception, she had unfettered access to funds and records/accounts book of the hotel. She was also found to have over N9,700,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) withdrawn from her account with which it was believed, she used to procure a landed property, ‘Keke’ tricycle, a shop and a seven-room apartment at Obeagu Amechi.
When the charges were read, the accused pleaded not guilty to three count charge preffered against her. The defence counsel Barr. N A Ogbodo prayed the court to grant the defendant bail due to her health challenge, a plea which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, M. M Gwani.
The accused was granted bail on the following terms: One surety and N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in like sum. The surety must be a grade level 12 officer in civil or public service who must deposit his or her appointment letter and two recent passports.
The surety, the judge ruled, must be verified by the prosecution and in three days, must produce the court with medical report of the accused. He further ordered that if the accused was unable to perfect her bail, she has to be remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date. The case was thereafter, adjourned to 22nd and 25th of August 2018.
