Bank workers arrested for diverting customers’ savings

The police in Lagos have arrested three workers of the Eco Bank of Nigeria Plc for allegedly defrauding the bank to the tune of N2.7m.

The suspects – Adetunji Oluwatoyin, Obademi Oluwatosin and Ogunshina Olushola – worked at the Iyana Ipaja branch of the bank and were said to have connived to commit the alleged fraud between July 10 and 24, 2015.

It was learnt that Oluwatoyin and Oluwatosin, said to be cashiers, had invited Olushola, who was at the bank’s information technology section, to a deal during which the sum was diverted from some customers’ accounts to a private account.

Oluwatoyin reportedly forged the signatures of the customers to carry out the fraudulent transaction.

It was gathered that the bank petitioned the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The police said Oluwatoyin had owned up to the crime and confessed that he got N350,000 as his share of the money.

The four suspects were arraigned on Monday before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on three counts bordering on forgery and fraud by a police prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas.

The charges read in part, “That you, Adetunji Oluwatoyin, Obademi Oluwatosin and Ogunshina Olushola, between July 10 and 24, 2015, during working hours at Eco Bank of Nigeria Plc at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: stealing.

“That you, Adetunji Oluwatoyin, did forge different signatures of Eco Bank customers’ accounts with intent to commit felony, and stole the sum of N2,794,000 from different account holders, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. K.B. Ayeye, admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till February 22, 2016.

PUNCH