Trial of a syndicate who specialised in high-wired theft of N.9 billion from the First City Monument Bank, has commenced before a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecution team of the Police Special Fraud Unit led by Benedict Bennett, called the first witness, the investigator, Inspector Shuaib Jeremiah who told the court that the alleged crime was committed in three stages.
According to the witness, the alleged fraud was carried out in Lagos, Akure and Abuja by the syndicates simultaneously in March 2018, noting that more than N300m was stolen from the bank in each city.
He said immediately, the police commence investigation and blocked all the beneficiary account across the country, the development led to the arrest of a cart pushers in Sokoto, one Ashiru Mohammed who mentioned the first defendant, Gideon Oluwatimileyin.
He stated further that Ashiru Mohammed statement revealed that the first defendant lured him with cumulative of N50k in three tranches to lured his ATM card, and it was through him they got the mobile line of the Oluwatimileyin which led to his arrest.
Inspector Jeremiah further stated that one Olaitan Ajibola was also arrested in Gbagada, Lagos and his statement revealed that he gave his ATM to one Moyosore Sulaiman, the fifth defendant in Egbeda and upon investigation, the police found out that Moyosore Sulaiman used the proceed of fraud to purchase various exotic cars found in his car mart.
On the third face of the crime, the IPO said one Samuel at large was arrested in Access Bank, Akure Branch and jump bail thereafter.
Read Also: https://topcourtnewsng.com/alleged-misappropriation-of-fund-court-fixes-september-20-to-hear-fuoyes-vc-suit/
He emphasized that all the defendants were arrested through a statement of one syndicate to another and they all volunteer a statement to the police.
After his testimonies, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who presides over the matter adjourned till August 9 for cross examination of the Investigation Police Officer, IPO by the defense teams.
The alleged syndicate fraudsters are Gideon Oluwatimilehin, Abiodun Aina, Samuel Adenitire, Oluwasegun Daliu, Olaitan Ajibola Sheu, Moyosore Sulaimon and Adeyinka Akinjinrin.
They were arraigned before the court sometimes in 2019 on four count charge and they all pleaded not guilty.
