The Police
Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, has arrested two men, Oladapo Oyeniyi and Kunle
Ayotoye, for allegedly defrauding a UK-based bank of 1,200,000 US dollars
under
false pretences.
The police
said Oyeniyi, 48, and Ayotoye, 45, stole the money between December 2012 and
January 2013, during their employment at a firm at No. 3, Oje Imsisnvan Street,
Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
They were
arraigned yesterday before Chief Magistrate A.O. Awogboro of Igbosere
Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
They are
standing trial on three counts of conspiracy, stealing and fraud.
Prosecuting
Inspector Amedu Adoga told the court that the defendants and others at large
conspired and issued a fake instruction to Habib Bank domiciled in the UK to
transfer $1.2m to 12 beneficiaries.
He said they
issued instructions to the bank under the guise that it was their employer,
Chris Ejike, that issued the said instruction and with the intention that it be
acted upon as genuine.
“The bank
believed that the instruction emanated from the defendant’s employer,and,
therefore, carried it out,” Insp. Adoga said.
He said they
stole the said money, thus contravened Sections 285 (8), 361 and 409 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants
denied the charge and their counsel, Bode Omoboriowo, urged the court to admit
them to bail on liberal terms.
This was
opposed by the prosecutor who urged the court to remand them in prison custody.
Insp. Adoga
said the amount involved in the case was so high that the defendants could jump
bail and that their addresses were unknown.
“It took the
police years to trace the defendants,” the officer added.
But Chief
Magistrate Awogboro upheld the defence counsel’s argument and admitted them to
N5m bail, each with two sureties each in the like sum.
The sureties,
who must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government, must have
landed property and must be blood relations of the accused.
She adjourned
the case till February 15.
They are to
remain in custody until they are able to meet the conditions. So if they run,
the sureties don enter government wahala.
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