How Olajide, Access Bank Staff Allegedly Stole N40.4m from Customers’ Accounts – Police

Bello Azeez Olajide, a 31 years old staffer of Access Bank Plc has been arrested by the Police at the Adeniji Adele Division, Lagos Island of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly unlawfully withdrawing the sum of N40,471,000 from the account of seven customers of the bank and converted it to his personal use.

Olajide has been charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court.

Police alleged that the management of the bank led by Mr Tevin Teibowei uncovered the alleged fraud through the internal forensic audit investigation unit when it audited its account and reported the matter to the Divisional Police Office, DPO in charge of Adeniji Adele Division who promptly directed his men to arrest the defendant.

After investigation by John Ekwumgbum and team, Olajide, a resident of Odunfa Street, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos from Kwara State was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a six-count charge bordering on fraudulent withdrawal from customers account without authority and stealing.

Ben Ekundayo, Police Counsel, informed the Court in the charge Marked TA/67/2024 that the defendant committed the offence between 21 June and 4 July 2024 at Access Bank Headquarters located on Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ekundayo told the Court that Olajide fraudulently withdrew the N40,471,000 from the account of seven customers of his employer without authority and transferred it into accounts belonging to him from where he withdrew the money and converted the money to his use.

Ekundayo further told the Court that nemesis, however, caught up with the defendant when the complainant audited its account and discovered the alleged fraud leading to his arrest.

He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411, 389(1)(2)(3)and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and M.A Owunmi, Chief Magistrate,  granted him N3m bail with two sureties in like sum.

Owunmi adjourned the case for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.