Customer Loses N47m To Banker

A banker with an old generation bank in Lagos, Mr. Peter Obi, 41, who allegedly posed as a bureau de change agent  and financial broker to obtain the sum of N47,490,000 under false pretence from a customer in the guise of helping him to purchase $300,000, but converted the money to his personal use, has been arrested by the police in Lagos.

He was arrested by the operatives at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos Island, southwest Nigeria and arraigned before an Igbosere Magostrate’s Court on a 7-count charge of stealing.

The police alleged that the accused was arrested following complaints by Sesan Popoola that Obi collected N47,490,000 on 27 November 2012 to assist him purchase $300,000, after he claimed to be a financial broker and a bureau de change agent, a claim he knew to be false.

Popoola further said that he gave the money to Obi because he was convinced that he is a financial expert and bureau de change agent. But Obi purchased the foreign currency and transferred the funds into his foreign account  in Europe, and that all efforts to recover the money from him proved futile before he reported the matter to the police.

During interrogation, Obi allegedly confessed to the crime, and he allegedly begged the police to give him some time to enable him refund the money, alleging that greed and the devil pushed him to steal the money.

But when he failed to refund the money, he was charged to court after investigation by a police team led by Inspector Umoru David.

The offences, the prosecutor, Inspector Marcus Okon stated, contravened criminal code, Laws of Lagos  State of Nigeria, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.O. Oshin admitted him on bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum who must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the matter till 10 April, 2013 for mention.

The defendant was, however, moved to Ikoyi Prison pending when he would fulfil the bail conditions.

—Paul Iyoghojie