A school bursar, Anayo Nwankwoala, was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice E. I. Oritsejafor of the Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun, Warri, Delta State, for allegedly stealing N17,688, 986.00.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged the suspect to court on four-count charges bordering on stealing, an offence he allegedly committed while working as a bursar at Sterling School, Ekpan, Effurun, Delta State.
One of the charges read, “That you, Anayo Nwankwoala while you were a staff and the bursar of Sterling School, Ekpan at Effurun, Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, between 8th of August 2016 to 5th January 2017, being entrusted with the responsibility of receiving school fees and other school levies approved by the school, did fraudulently stole various amounts of money as contained in the school fee receipts to the aggregate sum of (N6,012,630.00) being payment for 2016/2017 first school fees and full day feeding, being property of Sterling School, received by you and thereby committed an offence.”
Nwankwoala pleaded not guilty to the charges which the EFCC said were contrary to Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act CAP C21 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006 and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the same law.
The prosecuting counsel, F.O. Dibang, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, C. I. Obi, however reminded the court of a pending bail application for the defendant and prayed the judge to grant same.
Justice Oritsejafor granted the defendant bail in the sum of N15 million and a surety in like sum. The surety, he said, must possess a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, which will be verified by the court registrar.
He adjourned the case till August 15, 2020, for hearing.