Court Declares Keystone Banker Wanted Over Alleged N35 Million Fraud

A Federal High Court has declared former Keystone Bank staff member Ebele Okpala wanted over alleged fraud involving N35 million. 

Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the order Tuesday while granting an ex parte motion filed by police counsel M. Bello, according to court records in suit FHC/L/530C/2024. 

The judge ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to arrest Okpala if she enters the country. He also directed the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, to place her on its wanted list and publish her name in national newspapers and on social media. 

Okpala and co-defendant Perpetual Onyeto, also a banker, were arraigned before the court in September 2024. Prosecutors allege they conspired to steal N35 million through money laundering, lifting a lien on a customer’s account and obtaining money by false pretence. 

The motion was supported by an affidavit from Inspector Tope Akerele of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, SFU, Ikoyi, Lagos. The court said the application was made under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. 

Okpala was reported to be outside the country at the time of the order. Onyeto remains a defendant in the case.