By Ahmed Rahma
Two employees of Fina Trust Microfinance Bank are in trouble for allegedly stealing funds belonging to customers of the financial institution.
On Wednesday, the police arraigned the suspects identified as Mr Sodeeq Adeleye and Mr Idowu Popoola before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
They were brought before the court on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and conspiracy. They were accused of stealing N720,508.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the prosecutors informed the court that the 34-year-old Mr Adeleye and 38-year-old Mr Popoola committed the said offences last year.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Kenrich Nomayo, specifically said the defendants committed the offences from May 2020 to December 2020 at No. 46 Toyin Street, Ikeja.
He explained that the accused persons received the money from customers of the bank with an instruction to pay the money into their accounts.
Mr Nomayo said all attempts to retrieve the money from the defendants who converted the money to their personal use remained fruitless.
He said the alleged offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
At the arraignment today, after listening to the prosecutor, the Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fajana, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Mrs Fajana ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and provide evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government and then adjourned the case until February 9, 2021, for mention.
