How Alleged Fraudster, Andrew Warri Steals N125M From GTBank

Justice Sherifat Sholebo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja Lagos, will on 5th July, 2022, decides merit of no-case-submission application brought by an alleged fraudster, Andrew Warri who is accused to have stolen N125million from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

He is also accused of issuance of dud Zenith Bank Plc cheque valued at N10million.

The defendant who was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is facing a seven-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.

Warri, who was arraigned alongside two companies A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited and Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited on June 25, 2021 is accused of defrauding GTBank of about N125 million.

The charge reads: “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.

“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 pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Defence counsel, Nelson Imoh had 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.

The prosecution closed its case after presenting three witnesses and tendering several documentary evidences to prove the case against Warri, who had to be placed on watch-list of the DSS, Immigration, Customs and other local and international law enforcement agencies before his arrest could be secured.

In the course of the trial, the defendant, however, changed his legal team and engaged the services of A.M. Makinde, SAN, who rather open his defence, filed a no case submission.

At today’s proceedings, both parties adopted their written addresses, with the defence arguing that he had no case to answer, while the prosecution urged the Court to hold that a prima facie case has been made against and to order him to open his defence.

After listening to both parties, Justice Solebo adjourned till July 5, 2022 for ruling on the no-case submission.