The Police at the Adeniji Adele Division, Lagos Island, have arrested a 31-year-old employee of Access Bank Plc, Bello Azeez Olajide, and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly withdrawing the sum of N40,471,000 from the account of seven customers of the bank, which he allegedly converted to his personal use.
Police alleged that the management of the bank led by Mr. Tevin Teibowe,i uncovered the alleged fraud through the internal forensic audit investigation unit when it audited its account and reported the matter to the police.
Prompted by the report, the police arrested Olajide.
After investigation by John Ekwumgbum and team, Olajide, a resident of Odunfa Street, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos, but who hails from Kwara State, was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate Court, Lagos, on a six-count charge bordering on fraudulent withdrawal from customers account without authority and stealing.
Police counsel, Ben Ekundayo, informed the Court in the charge marked TA/67/2024 that the defendant committed the offence between 21 June and 4 July 2024 at Access Bank Headquarters located on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Ekundayo told the court that Olajide fraudulently withdrew the N40,471,000 from the account of seven customers of his employer without authority, and transferred it into accounts belonging to him from where he withdrew the money and converted to his use.
Ekundayo further told the court that nemesis, however, caught up with the defendant when the complainant audited its account and discovered the alleged fraud leading to his arrest.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411, 389(1)(2)(3)and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate, M.A Owunmi granted him N3million bail, with two sureties in like sum.
Owunmi adjourned the case for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he able to perfect his bail conditions.
* NAN