Guaranty Trust Bank, Patrick Adeyemi Egunnike, a Nigerian National and two others appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 for allegedly falsifying the account of Ibrahim Bazzy and sons Limited.

They stood the court on six count charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud contrary to law.

And falsification of accounts contrary to law, the suspect forged document and was held for failure to keep records of transactions and fraudulent conversion of property.

According to the particulars of offence, the bank and others on diverse days between 1st July 2015 to the 31st July 2017 in Freetown with intent to defraud conspired together and with other persons unknown to defraud Ibrahim Bazzy and sons limited.

The police further alleged on count two that the corporation and the accused persons on the same date and place with intent to defraud falsified the account of Ibrahim Bazzy and sons Limited.

Count three further stated that on the same date and place the accused persons with intent to defraud, forged certain document to wit the signature of Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy in an offer of banking facility dated 31st day of July 2017 purporting that it was signed by the said Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy, knowing same to be false.

It was also alleged on counts four that on the same date and place the accused persons with intent to defraud uttered a forged offer og banking facility dated the 31st July 2017.

The police also stated on count five that Guaranty Trust Bank with intent to defraud failed to keep the application letters and acceptance letters in respect of loans given to Admiral Trading Limited and Ibrahim Bazzy and sons limited.

While count six further stated that on the 20th July 2017 at the Guranty Trust Bank Number 12 Wilberforce Street the Western Area in Freetown.

With intent to defraud, the suspect fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say a title deed of a realty received by it for and on account of Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy and sons limited in order that guranty Trust Bank retained the same in safe custody.

When the charges were read no plea was taken.

The state prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay Esq  told the bench that the first accused being a corporation should have sent a representative in court so he applied for an order to ensure that Guaranty Trust Bank being a corporation to have a representative named in a statement sent to the court for the purpose of the appointee to stand for the corporation during the proceedings.

He respectively urged the bench to be guided by time lines and it must be sent to the corporation before the next adjourned date and in the circumstance requested for an adjournment.

The lead counsel representing the accused persons Roland Wright applied for bail on behalf of the third accused person nothing that he is the second in command at Access Bank while the fourth accused person, he said, holds senior position at the Guaranty Trust Bank they will not jumped bail.

His application was made pursuant to Section 79 (2 )of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.

Magistrate Bangura granted bail to the third and fourth accused in the sum of two hundred thousand Leones each in like sum, the sureties must be resident in Freetown and must be gainfully employed and hold senior management positions in their respective employments while the bail to be approved by the Master and Registrar of the High court of Sierra Leone.

He also ordered the first accused Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited representative to appear in court and the said appointment made in a written statement served on the prosecution on or before the next adjourned date.

The matter was adjourned to the 13th November 2024.