26th October, 2016
A 28-year-old tertiary institution student, Anthony Akpiri, who allegedly stole N250,000 from customers of a bank at 16 branches in Lagos, was on Wednesday left off the hook temporarily as he was admitted to a bail of N50,000 by a Lagos court.
Akpiri of Iju-Ishaga in Agege area of Lagos is being tried for stealing at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court.
Between Dec. 2015 and Oct. 20, the accused committed the offence at 16 different branches of GTBank on the mainland as reported to the police by the bank’s chief security officer, said Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky.
“He reported that they discovered that the accused always present himself to their customers as a staff of the bank in any GTBank branch on the mainland.
“He said the accused used to collect money from customers on the pretext of helping them to deposit their money into their accounts but he will abscond with their money.”
Iheihe told the court that the accused, who was later identified as Anthony had gone round about 16 branches to perpetrate the crime.
“On Oct. 19 at Ketu Branch, the accused collected N10, 000 from a customer in a bid to help him but ran away with the money.
“On Oct. 20, he came to Anthony branch to do the same thing but was apprehended and brought to the station.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three of the customers who were defrauded were present in court to testify as witnesses.
The offences contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Akpiri pleaded not guilty and his lawyers — Messrs S. F. Effiong and E. Mbanugo — applied for bail for the accused on liberal terms.
The Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, ruling on the bail application, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties, one of who must be a blood relation.
She said the sureties must show evidence of gainful employment and tax payment as part of the bail condition.
The court adjourned the case to Oct. 28.