N85.5 million fraud causes panic in First Bank…Staffer, four others face trial

First Bank MD, Bisi

Palpable fear and panic now pervade the Shomolu, Lagos State branch of Nigeria’s leading and foremost financial institution, First Bank Nigeria Plc., as one of its staffers, Gbemisola Nurudeen and four others were recently arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court, sitting at Ebute Metta, for allegedly stealing the sum of N85.540,000.00, property of the bank.

Others charged alongside Nurudeen with conspiracy and stealing included John Emezele, Udobong Joseph, Omotoyinbo Olaolu and Adebayo Yusuf.

According to the charge sheet number: D/51/2013, the five defendants and others now at large, had allegedly between January 9 and 18, 2013, while working at the bank conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit stealing the said amount.

The prosecutors, Mr. P Ogwuba and Mr. Etim Ekankuk, both Deputy Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Police respectively, from the SCID, said the offences committed by the alleged fraudulent bankers were punishable under sections 409 and 285 (1)(5)(e) and (7) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria. The charges preferred against the defendants reads in part: “That you Gbemisola Nurudeen, being a staff of First Bank Nigeria Plc., John Emezele, Udobong Joseph, Omotoyinbo Olaolu and Adebayo Yusuf and others now at large, between January 9 and 18, 2013, at the First Bank Nigeria Plc., Somolu Branch, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. That you Gbemisola Nurudeen, being a staff of First Bank Nigeria Plc., John Emezele, Udobong Joseph, Omotoyinbo Olaolu and Yusuf Adebayo and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of N85. 540, 000, 00 property of the First Bank Nigeria Plc., represented by the forensic auditor, Akhanolu Solomon, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 285… of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.”