Police Apprehend Fleeing Ecobank Staff over N30m Fraud

A former staff of Ecobank Plc, Lagos, Kayode Ayodele, 34, who has been on the run since last year over alleged N30m fraud has been arrested in Ogun State.

Police alleged that the suspect connived with two other former staff of the bank, Tiaminu Lukman, 48 and Shaga Olu Sheriff, 34 now facing trial for the same offence to hack into the account of their employer and withdrew N30m which they shared.

The incident, according to the police, occurred between August 2013 and June 2015 during working hours.

The bank management uncovered the fraud when they audited the account book and reported the matter to the DPO in charge of Ikoyi division, Lagos, SP Tijani Mustapha, who directed the team led by Sergeant Tope Ijatuyi to track and arrest the suspect.

While Tiaminu Lukman and Shaga Olu Sheriff were arrested last year and charged to court, Ayodele went into hiding.

Ayodele was however tracked and arrested in January, 2017 at Ijoko area of Ogun State and brought to Lagos.

After investigation, Ayodele was charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on a two-count charge of stealing the sum of N30m, property of Ecobank Plc.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Jimoh Joseph, informed the court in charge No. A/01/2017 that Kayode Ayodele, Tiaminu Lukman and Shaga Olu Sheriff were staff of Ecobank when they fraudulently withdrew the N30m from their employers account and shared it without authority.

He said the offences committed were punishable under sections 409 and 303 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Ayodele pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime in the open court and Chief Magistrate A. O. Awogboro admitted him on bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum.

Awogboro adjourned the case till January 20, 2017 for mention while Ayodele was taken to Ikoyi prison pending when he will be able to perfect his bail conditions.