LAGOS – An employee of First Bank, David Anibolu, on Wednesday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of depositors’ N9.3 million.
Anibolu, 24, who lives at No. 15, Baale St., Agbroko Iba in Ojo area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, SP Chidi Okoye told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 22 at 2.00 p.m. at First Bank Alaba II Branch, Lagos.
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 bringing the total amount to N9.3 million.
A forensic auditor attached to First 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.
He said following the completion of investigations by the bank, the case was transferred to the police, who arrested Anibolu.
Okoye said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment for theft, while Section 409 stipulates a two-year for conspiracy.
When the charges were read to Anibolu, he pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrates, Miss A.O. Awogboro, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to May 15.(NAN)
