3rd April, 2014
Paul Iyoghojie
A bank teller working with an old generation bank at Alaba 2 branch office, Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has been arrested and charged to court over the alleged theft of depositors’ N9,308,000.
The suspect, David Anibolu, 24, was arrested by the police at the Lion Building Division, Campbell Street, Lagos Island, for taking the money from the bank without authorization.
Anibolu, who lives at 15, Baale St., Agbroko Iba in Ojo area of Lagos, on Wednesday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos to face a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, SP Chidi Okoye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on 22 March at 2.00 p.m. at the branch office.
Okoye said the accused, who was on annual vacation, came to the bank premises under the pretext that he wanted to help a customer to post his land use charges.
“Anibolu set out to fraudulently change a customer’s identity and mandate card which enabled him to debit the said account of the sum N9 million and transferred it into various accounts.”
According to him, the theft and others committed by the accused were later discovered to be N9.3 million.
A forensic auditor attached to the bank, Solomon Akhanolu, was able to link the fraud to the accused through the password he used to change the customer’s identity and mandate card, the prosecutor said.
Okoye said following the completion of investigations by the bank, the case was transferred to the police, who arrested Anibolu and after investigation, the suspect was arraigned in court.
The police said that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime.
“I have been working with the bank as a teller since 2011 but on the day of the incident, I used the passwords of my colleagues with the help of “F” Key logger given to me by my friend called Afeez who is now at large. The logger helps link a customer’s identification with another that has online banking, which enables cash to be transferred successfully from one account to another. My regret now is that I was supposed to get N4 million as my share but the receivers of the money have since disappeared. I regret my action,” he allegedly told the police.
The police prosecutor, Supol Chidi Okoye, said the offences are punishable under Sections 409 and 285(8) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty in the open court and Chief Magistrate Miss A. O. Awogboro admitted him on bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The presiding judge adjourned the matter till 14 May, 2014 for mention.
The defendant was, however, taken to Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos pending when he will fulfill his bail conditions.