Bankers to stay in prison over N200m fraud

An Abeokuta Magistrate Court, sitting in Isabo, on Wednesday remanded two officials of First Bank Nigeria Plc in prison for the alleged fraudulent transfer of N200m from the bank’s branch in Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The accused persons -24-year-old Idris Salawu and Oni Adewale, 29, formerly employees of FBN branch, Adigbe, were arraigned before Magistrate A.O Araba on a three counts of stealing, forgery and fraud. The prosecutor, Paul Etusi, told the court that the two accused bankers committed the offence on January 25, 2013 at one of the branches of the bank located in the Adigbe area of the state capital. Etusi said the two suspects fraudulently converted a sum of N200m “with intent permanently to deprive the bank of the ownership of the property.” The police added, “The accused has committed an offence contrary to section 383 (1)(2)(a) of the Criminal Code and punishable under Section 390(9) Law of Ogun State Nigeria, 2006. “The accused forged online transfer token document to defraud the sum of N200m property of First Bank, and connived with another person yet to be found, and transferred the money to his account. “The accused had already withdrawn N22m from the money; they had committed an offence contrary to section 465 and punishable under section 467 law of Ogun State Nigeria 2006.” The Magistrate ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison before adjourning the case to Friday to consider their bail application.