Bank employee charged with disbursing N27.9m to ghost customers

A 30-year-old employee of a Micro finance Bank, who allegedly disbursed N27.9 million loans to ghost customers, on Thursday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Michael Atebo, who resides at No. 14, Akin St., Ikeja, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy forgery and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused stole the sum from the AB Micro finance Bank, where he was in charge of loans.

He said that Atebo forged documents to disburse loans to ghost clients and converted the fund for his personal use.

Anyanwu submitted that the employee committed the offences in September, at No. 9, Oba Akran Ave., Ikeja.

He added that Atebo conspired with others at large to forge the signature of the bank’s supervisory officer, Mr Ebenezer Oluwasanmi, to be able to commit the crimes.

“His fraudulent act was discovered by the supervisory officer.

“Mr Opeyemi Odumusi, a Legal Officer of the AB Micro finance Bank reported the case, and the accused was arrested in his hideout in a hotel at Akute,” he said.

Anyanwu said that the offences contravened Sections 363, 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adekorede Ajibade, granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in the like sum.

Ajibade adjourned the case to Jan. 8, 2014 for mention. (NAN)