200 Million Naira Fraud At Skye Bank.

Senior officials of Skye Bank Plc and a worker of a Lagos-based company, South Globe Limited (SGL), have been docked at an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court over an alleged N200 million fraud rocking the Seme Border, Badagry, Lagos, branch of the bank.

The officials, Messrs Biobaku Olabode and Okegbenro Akanji Olumide, allegedly conspired with a 24-year-old SGL’s official, Seun Fesomade, to defraud the bank of N200 million lodged with it by the company.

The duo of Olabode and Olumide allegedly aided the fraud by initially removing N2,870,000 from the company’s account, the court was told yesterday.

But, the fraud was exposed after the accused persons allegedly transferred about N200 million from SGL’s account to an unnamed female customer’s account with Finbank Plc,Victorial Island, Lagos.

This, trial Magistrate P. A. Ojo heard, led to the investigation of the accused persons by the police, following a complaint before the state command.

The offence, according to the police prosecutor, was allegedly committed between April and May 7, this year.

Others in the dock were Awakon Shola (25), Ogunseye Kehinde (20) and Nurudeen Aliu (24).

All allegedly conspired to steal about N202 million from the company’s account with the Skye Bank.

Prosecutor Obiase, in a 12-count charge sheet, painted graphic details on how the accused persons allegedly perpetrated the crime.

They are facing 12 counts charge of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and stealing.

Although their alleged level of involvement in the fraud varied, they were, however, jointly docked.

While Olabode and Olumide allegedly aided the fraud, following their inability to prevent its commission, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Fesomade, Shola, Kehinde and Aliu allegedly forged several documents, including the signature of the SGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Udema Kalu, to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

The charge sheet reads: “That you Seun Fesomade, Awakon Shola, Nurudeen Aliu, Biobaku Olabode, Okegbenro Akanji Olumide and Oguseye Kehinde, between the month of April and May at Ikoyi in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspire to commit felony to wit stealing.

“That you Fesomade, Shola, Kehinde, Aliu, Olabode and Olumide at same date and place, did steal the sum of N2,870,000, property of South Globe Limited.

“That you Fesomade, Shola, Kehinde and Aliu, in May 2010, did conspire to commit felony at Finbank Plc, Victoria Island.

“That you Fesomade, Shola, Aliu and Kehinde did attempt to steal the sum of N100 million property of South Globe Limited.”

Other charges are “that you Fesomade, Shola, Kehinde and Aliu on May 12 at Finbank Plc,Victoria Island branch, did conspire to commit felony; forge South Globe Limited staff identity card with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine to prejudice some persons: to wit impersonation; knowingly and fraudulently uttered false South Globe identity card.

“That you Biobaku Olabode and Okegbenro Akanji Olumide in April at Skye Bank Plc., Seme border branch, Badagry, conspired to commit felony to wit neglect to prevent felony; being staff of Skye Bank, knowing full well that some persons were committing felony, failed to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or completion.”

This, according to the prosecutor, are punishable offence under Sections 390 (9), 476,468, 484,509 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Vol. II, 2003 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Further hearing in the matter has been fixed for September 30.