EFCC docks banker for allegedly stealing N25m depositors’ money

isaac

February 19, 2015 11:34 AM

A fraudulent former marketer in a new generation bank has been dragged to the court for stealing N25m from customers.

A shady former marketing officer with a Lagos branch of the Fidelity Bank, Friday Yahaya who also goes by the name Peter Arikhan, has been arraigned before the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly stealing the sum of N25, 350,000, from depositor's account while working in the bank.

The lawyer for the anti-graft agency told Justice Lawal Akapo that Yayaha, over a period of 10 months, struck different depositors and from one particular victim, he stole the sum of N21,710,000.

The accused was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on stealing, impersonation and forgery.

In a press release, the EFCC head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said:

"Yahaya, a former marketing ‘staff’ of Fidelity Bank, Balogun Business Association branch, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, allegedly defrauded nine customers of the bank through diversion of their deposits into his personal account with the bank.

Friday Yahaya (Peter Arikhan) sometime between the months of February and November 2013, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being a staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, stole the sum of N21,710,000 from account number 6050729408 maintained by Ifeanyi Okoye, property of Fidelity Bank Plc."

Yahaya however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Justice Akapo adjourned the matter till March 11 for hearing of defence bail application and ordered the accused to be Yahaya remanded in Ikoyi Prison.

isaac