Justice Dipeolu orders DSS, Immigration, Customs to arrest Ebele Okpala on return to Nigeria
Lagos – A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared Keystone Bank official Mrs. Ebele Bernadine Okpala wanted over an alleged N35 million fraud.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the order on Tuesday, directing the Department of State Services, Nigerian Immigration Service, and Nigeria Customs Service to arrest Okpala once she enters the country. The judge noted that the banker is currently outside Nigeria.
The ruling followed a motion ex parte marked FHC/L/530C/2024, filed by Chief Superintendent of Police M. Y. Bello on behalf of the Nigeria Police. The motion listed Okpala as the first defendant and Perpetual Onyeto, also a banker, as the second defendant. The DSS, NIS, and NCS were joined as cited parties.
Bello told the court the application was brought under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and supported by an affidavit from Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Granting the request, Justice Dipeolu ruled that the application had merit and approved all reliefs sought. The court ordered that Okpala be declared wanted and placed on the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit wanted list at 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi, until she is apprehended.
The court also compelled the DSS, NIS, and NCS to assist in arresting the first defendant on entry into the country. In addition, it permitted the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit to publish Okpala’s name in national dailies and on social media to aid her arrest.
Both Okpala and Onyeto were earlier arraigned before the same court in September 2024. The police Special Fraud Unit charged the two bankers with conspiracy, theft, money laundering, fraudulent lifting of a lien placed on a customer’s account, and obtaining N35 million by false pretence.
The case continues.
