Justice E. I. Oritsejafor of the Delta State High Court, Effurun, Warri,
Delta State for alleged stealing to the tune of N17,688, 986.00
(Seventeen Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred
and Eight Six Naira).
Nwankwoala was arraigned on four-count charges, bordering on stealing
the said sum, while he was bursar of Sterling School, Ekpan, Effurun,
Delta State, 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.
One of the charges read, “That you, Anayo Nwankwoala while you were
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 the
property of Sterling School, received by you and thereby committed an
offence.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which
prosecution counsel, F.O. Dibang prayed the court for a trial
commencement date and 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 court to grant bail to
his client.
Justice Oritsejafor granted the defendant bail in the sum of N15 million
and a surety in like sum. The surety, the judge said, should possess
landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, which will be
verified by the court registrar.