20th October, 2014
Paul Iyoghojie
A female staff of a new generation bank, Opeyemi Opetuga, 35, has been charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Lagos State, western Nigeria, with allegedly withdrawing N875,000 from the account of a deceased customer of the bank without approval.
Opetuga, who was working at the Alausa branch of the bank in Lagos, was arrested by the police at the Bar Beach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos, where the bank management reported the alleged fraud.
After investigation by the police team led by Inspector Dorcas Dangbi, the suspect was arraigned in court on a four-count charge of felony to wit, stealing.
The police prosecutor, Sgt. Ingobo Emby, told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence between 23, 27 and 27 May, 2014 at the Alausa branch of the bank.
Emby alleged that Opetuga forged the signature of the deceased, Ayinla Adeoba Awojobi, and withdrew the money from his account without the consent of his family.
He said the accused allegedly perfected the act after she reactivated the deceased’s account, removed his picture and replaced it with her brother’s picture.
The police prosecutor said nemesis caught up with Opetuga when her employers audited the accounts of the branch of the bank and discovered the fraud.
He said the bank management sacked Opetuga and handed her over to the police.
Emby said the offence the accused committed are punishable under sections 409.363,285 285 and 59 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs I.O. Omotosho, admitted her on bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate further directed that one of the sureties must be a community leader.
Omotosho adjourned the matter till 29 October, 2014 for mention, while the defendant was taken to Kirikiri Prisons in Apapa, Lagos pending when she will fulfill her bail conditions.