The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi zonal office, on March 5, 2020, arraigned one Gbaa Benjamin on a one-count charge for stealing and unauthorized ATM cash withdrawal to the tune of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
The count reads: “That you, Gbaa Luther Benjamin, sometime in October, 2019 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did steal an electronic card to wit: A Zenith Bank Plc debit card issued in the name of Ishima Lohodeboo Yakubu with Account No. 2208635042 and withdrew the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only, from the said account and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 33(3) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015”.
He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.
Counsel for the EFCC, Mary Onoja, asked for a trial date and also that the defendant be remanded pending his bail.
However, defence counsel, J.T. Jinge, prayed the Court that he be allowed to make an oral application for the bail of his client since the client was still under administrative bail granted him by the Commission.
Justice Olajuwon rejected the motion and ordered that the defendant be remanded in correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
The case has been adjourned until May 11, 2020 for commencement of trial