Banker Arraigned For Allegedly Stealing N25m Depositors’ Money

A former banker James Oke, arrested on board a flight out of Nigeria after allegedly stealing N25,466,330 million from the bank has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting at Igbosere.

 

Oke 28, alongside his accomplice Moyosore Shofowora 27, also a banker, were docked before Chief Magistrate B. A Snouga.

 

They are standing trial on two-count charge of conspiracy and theft.

 

The prosecutor, Inspector Abbass Abayomi, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between September 22, 2016 and July 28, 2017, at Ogba Branch of the Bank.

 

He claimed they conspired among themselves and stole N25, 466,330, property of the bank.

 

According to him, the offences committed by the duo is punishable under Sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

 

However the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.

 

Their counsel Mr O Gani and Mr U.N Ezeokeke urged the court to grant the defendants bail in liberal term, as they were still presumed innocent until proven guilty.

 

But the prosecutor objected to the application to grant them bail in liberal term.

 

After listening to the submissions of the defendants counsel and the prosecutor, Magistrate Sonuga granted the defendants N5million bail each, with two sureties each in like sum, who must be bank managers of two separate banks.