Some traders at Alaba International Market in Ojo Local government area of Lagos have been duped after a Diamond Bank Staff allegedly went to their various shops and obtained large sums of money under the false pretence of depositing it into their various accounts in the bank rather bolted.
While the total amount was yet to be ascertained because the victims were many and the amount runs into millions of naira, the suspect, Ayo Olaniyi has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court with fraud.
We gathered Olaniyi went to the market and introduced himself as the staff of the Bank and informed them that there was a policy by the bank to assist customers make easy savings in the bank.
This entailed that he will be going to shops and collect the monies they wanted to deposit in the bank on daily basis and pay into their account.
Our correspondent learnt the traders, who are now victims, were comfortable with the arrangement and besides, some of them confirmed with the bank branch at Alaba market.
For few weeks, Olaniyi was collecting the monies and remitting to their various accounts on daily basis until on November 2016 when he decided to dupe them.
It was gathered that Olaniyi collected undisclosed amount running into millions under the false pretence of depositing it into the account as usual. Instead of paying, he ran away with the money and went into hiding.
When the traders waited to receive alert and they did not get any, they went to the bank to look for Olaniyi, only to discovered that he had escaped with their money.
The matter was reported to the Police who searched for Olaniyi to no avail until one of the victims, Ayo Johnbull ran into him, caught and handed him over to the police.
He was charged with obtaining and stealing under the Criminal code, while Johnbull was presented as complainant while other complainants, when show up will be listed and presented to the court. He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti at the Ejigbo court, Lagos granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when the charge will be amended and he will fulfill his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 17 February 2017.
SOURCE : The Icon