The defendant was arraigned on an amended two count charge of stealing over N9 million from the bank by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC. He was said to have stolen the money while working as cashier at the Owo Branch of the bank.
Upon arraignment the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, setting the stage for full trial.
In the course of trial, the prosecution led by F.O. Dibang and K. U. Udus called four witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence against the defendant.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Dogo found the defendant guilty on the two counts. The Judge sentenced him to four years imprisonment on count one and six years on count two. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Spokesman of the EFCC Wilson Uwujaren, said the court also ordered the defendant to restitute the victim, First Bank Plc, the sum of N9 million. In the event of failure to restitute the bank, the defendant shall serve another four years in jail.
One of the counts reads: “That you Momojimoh Abdulmalik between 4th January, 2018 to 20th July 2018 at First Bank Plc, Owo Branch, Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being a staff/cashier in First Bank Plc, Owo, stole the sum of N7,159,200 (Seven Million, One Hundred and Fifty-nine Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) from Ondo State Revenue Collection Account domicile at First Bank Plc, Owo Branch, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38 of the (Revised Edition Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004 and read together with Section 1(1)(d) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act Cap F2 of the Revised Edition, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Act 2007”.
In September, 2020, a former staff of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Oreoluwa Adesakin, was.handed a cumulative 98 years in prison by Justice Muniru Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court for fraud.
She was found to have committed financial fraud against her employers to the tune of N49.3 million and an additional $368,203 belonging to the bank which she converted to her personal use.
The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC on 14-count charges, bordering on stealing, forgery and fraudulent accounting.
She had pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which necessitated her trial.
Prosecution counsel, Usman Murtala in arguing his case, presented documents and witnesses which nailed the convict.
The judge noted that the EFCC amassed a pool of incontrovertible evidence against the convict and did a diligent investigation and prosecution. He pronounced Adesakin guilty of all the charges, sentencing her to seven years in prison without an option of fine on each of the 14 counts, which will run concurrently.
Apart from the jail term, the convict is also to restitute First Bank, through the EFCC, all the money she stole.
The convict was first arraigned on April 4, 2014 by the EFCC following conclusion of investigations against her which arose from a petition from her former employer, dated December 18, 2013.
The bank alleged in the petition that Adesakin, as its Money Transfer Operator, saddled with the responsibility of effecting payments through Western Union Money Transfer and Money Gram platforms, fraudulently manipulated accounting and withdrew the total sums of N49,320,652.32 and another $368,203.00 for herself, which the bank only uncovered while reviewing its internal account.
The EFCC was also able to establish that the convict used part of the proceeds of her crime to acquire landed properties in different parts of Oyo State.