28th July, 2016
The Head of Human Resources, Compensations and Benefits at Ecobank Plc headquarters in Lagos, Tiamiyu Lukeman, 48 and a clerk at the bank, Shogaolu Sheriff, 30, have been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court for allegedly withdrawing N30m from the account of their employer without authority.
The alleged fraud, according to investigation, was uncovered by the management of the bank when they audited their account books.
Following the development, the bank management reported the fraud to the DPO in charge of Ikoyi Division, SP Tijani Mustapha who directed a team led by Sergeant Ijatuyi Tope to arrest the suspects.
After investigation, Lukeman, who resides in Ikorodu and Sheriff, a resident of Surulere area of Lagos, were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a four-count charge of felony to wit; forgery and stealing.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Jimoh Joseph informed the court in charge No A/41/2016 that the accused persons committed the alleged offence between 1 August and June 2016 at Ecobank Plc headquarters.
Joseph told the court that the accused and others still at large fraudulently inserted three fake names among the genuine list of beneficiaries for compensation project of the bank and credited the fake names with the sum of N30m.
He said nemesis caught up with them when their employer audited their account and discovered the alleged fraud, adding that the accused persons confessed to the crime.
The prosecutor said the offences are punishable under sections 409, 285, 363(1) and 232 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the crime in the open court and Chief Magistrate A.O Sholadoye admitted them to bail in the sum of N5m each with two sureties each in like sum.
Sholadoye directed that one of the sureties must be on Level 16 in the Lagos State Civil Service and the other must be a chartered accountant.
The case has been adjourned till 10 August, 2016 for mention.
The defendants were taken to the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when they will fulfill their bail conditions.