IBRU IN EFCC NET

Former managing director of Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, on Wednesday finally surrendered herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ibru arrived the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos office of the anti-graft agency at about 2:30 p.m. in a convoy of cars including Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) marked LAGOS HR 683 EKY and LAGOS FV 768 EKY.

Looking resplendent in a black suit, she was accompanied by her lawyer, Niyi Akintola (SAN) and medical doctor among others.
As soon as she alighted from her SUV in the expansive EFCC premises, which was a beehive of activities, operatives of the commission immediately led Ibru upstairs where she was interrogated in the presence of the Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

The ex-chief executive officer of Oceanic Bank was later taken to the EFCC office annex located at Okotie-Eboh Street in Ikoyi for further interrogation at about 3:50 p.m.
When she came down from where she was quizzed, she looked weak and was supported by a white man and a lady. The encounter was apparently traumatic for Mrs. Ibru who sources said sobbed intermittently while being grilled by the EFCC operatives.

In a brief exchange with newsmen, Chief Akintola, said her client came from hospital bed to surrender herself to the EFCC.
“As you can see, she came from her hospital bed and she came with her doctor.”
He said nobody apart from the court of law has any right to declare anybody wanted or to order for the detention of any citizen. “The court order has been served on the EFCC and the court bailiff is here,” Akintola said.

The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed Ibru’s submission to the agency for prosecution. He stated that she might be charged to court soon.
Babafemi further said five teams of EFCC operatives were sent out to debtors who defaulted in paying back huge sums owed the five troubled banks. Each of the team, he said, was given a target to meet with 10 billionaire debtors of Union Bank, Finbank, Afribank, Intercontinental Bank and Oceanic Bank. He said no fewer than 50 debtors were expected in the EFCC office by the close of work on Wednesday.
Daily Sun gathered as at press time that no fewer than 24 of the defaulters had been arrested and brought into custody.

According to sources, some of the arrested persons made frantic efforts to pay their debts.
Although it was impossible to ascertain the total amount paid by the defaulters on Wednesday, but a source said at least N600 million was raked into Union Bank coffers alone.