CLERIC JAILED TWO YEARS FOR N984, 000 FRAUD

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the prosecutor, Cyriacus Osuji, told the Court that the convict committed the offence between March 5 at about 4 p.m. and March 6 at about 7 a.m. in 2012, with the aid of his mobile phone.

“Olukayode with the aid of his mobile phone with sim number 08034XXXXXX, stole the sum of N22, 550 through his Wema Bank account, property of Wema Bank Plc. The convict at the same time and place with the aid of his mobile banking transferred the sum of N701, 900 from Wema Bank to his GTB Bank account and N260,000 to his First Bank account property of Wema Bank Plc.”

Penpushing reports that, the Prosecutor, who is a Police Sergeant said the offences committed are contrary to 278 (2), and Punishable Under Sections 285 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.

However, a witness from the bank had told the court that between March 4-6, 2012, the bank’s system malfunctioned, and the convict who was running a joint account with his wife then and had only N300 in his account at that time, took advantage of the situation to steal the said amount.

Penpushing report further that the witness also said that immediately the convict noticed the malfunction in the system of the bank, he started buying airtime which accumulated to N22,550 and thereafter transferred the other amounts to his GTB bank and First Bank accounts.

The bank further stated that though he wasn’t the only one that took advantage of the situation but that when he was approached, he said that he wasn’t going to return the money as it was his prayers that were answered by God, adding that he had been praying and asking God to provide for him to enable him to build his own church.

Penpushing reports that, the bank, explained that other people who also took advantage of the situation were approached and they started paying back the money, but Olukayode refused to pay back.