A staff of Sterling Bank Plc, Remi Adebimpe, has been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a bank customer of $14,000 (app N3 million).
According to the court hearing, Mr. Jonathan Nwora, a bank customer, had on June 9, 2015, reportedly given a total sum of $20,000 to the 34-year-old transaction officer to be deposited in his (Nwora’s) account.
This was during working hours at the Ikoyi branch of the bank.
Apparently, the accused found a better use for the money, as he allegedly lodged $6,000 and kept $14,000 for himself.
Police said Nwora notified the management of the bank after noticing the infraction, and Adebimpe’s appointment was immediately terminated.
The matter was subsequently reported at the Lion Building Division of the Nigeria Police and Adebimpe was picked up, alongside an accomplice, 45-year-old Suleiman Azeez.
At the conclusion of investigation, Adebimpe was dragged before the Tinubu Magistrate Court on two counts of felony and stealing.
According to police prosecutor Ignatus Okeke, in his testimony before the court, the accused confessed to police during interrogation that he stole the money and engaged in a money doubling scheme on the advice of Azeez, at the instance of a native doctor.
Adebimpe said Azeez lured him to the native doctor to use the stolen money in the printing of dollars, Okeke said.
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty and the Chief Magistrate, Mrs K.B Ayeye granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
They were ordered remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.