Female Banker Steals N24m From Customers' accounts

A female staff of an old generation bank in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, Alabi Joy Omotayo, 26, has been arrested by the police at Onikan division, Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly withdrawing N24 million from the bank’s customers’ accounts.

After investigation by Police Corporal Orifa Olugbenga and his team, the suspect was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a five-count charge of felony to wit, stealing.


The police alleged in charge No C/34/2013 that the accused was arrested following a complaint by the management of the bank’s headquarters in Lagos that the accused, a customer service care officer at their Ondo branch office, had stolen N24 million.

The bank further said that they discovered the fraud when they audited their account.

During investigation, according to the police, they discovered that Joy, a resident of 7, Mary Peter Street, Itogbe, Ondo State, allegedly used computers to have unauthorized access to her employer’s programmes, data and electronic data of the customers’ records and withdrew the sum of N10.5 million from account No. 3031456895 belonging to a customer of the bank.

Joy was also alleged to have on 10 June, 2013 and 8 July, 2013, withdrawn N4.5 million from account No. 2006365332, and N9.1 million from account No. 3023171579 without authorization.

The offences the accused committed, according to the police prosecutor, Sgt Babatope Julius, are punishable under sections 409, 389 and 285(7) of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.

Joy pleaded not guilty to the crime in the open court, and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. F. O. Aigbokhaevbo admitted her on bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. She adjourned the matter till 15 November, 2013 for mention.

The defendant was, however, moved to Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, Lagos, pending when she will fulfill the bail conditions.