Justice Sunday Ebenezer Aladetoyinbo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate and freeze the bank accounts of one David Fashe Kehinde Itopa in First City Monument Bank, FCMB and Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB.

The order is sequel to the oral submission of Charlotte Dennis, the prosecution counsel, who told the court that he has information that the accused has N100 million in one of his accounts, and that the money was domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank before it was transferred to FCMB.

Itopa is standing trial on a 2-count charge for issuance of dud cheque. One of the counts reads; "that you, Fashe David Kehinde Itopa being the Managing Director of Wayves System Investment Limited on or about the 20th of July at Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did obtain credit by issuing an FCMB Plc cheque No. 10465794 dated 20th July, 2011 in the name of Wayves System Ltd in the sum of N6,000,000.00 (six million naira) only in favour of Akor Batholomew Alogo which when presented within three months was dishonoured on the grounds that there was insufficient funds in the account to cover the face value of same and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheque (offences) Act, 2004 Laws of the Federation"

The case which was fixed for hearing on May 7, 2013 could not progress despite the presence of the witnesses in court as the defence counsel failed to show up.

The case was adjourned to June 12, 2013.

Media & Publicity Unit

7th May, 2013