Banker in court over alleged N485,000 theft

A 32-year-old banker, Harris Olaniyi, was on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of N485,000.

Olaniyi, who lives at Berger, Lagos, is being tried for stealing.

Following his plea of not guilty, Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi released him on bail of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

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Further hearing has been fixed for Sept.18.

The Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, had told the court that the defendant stole the money belonging to the Basak Microfinance Bank on June 23 at Ogba, Lagos.

“The defendant received the money from a customer who paid back a loan he obtained from the bank.

“He refused to remit it into the company’s account and fraudulently converted it to his own use.

“When the theft was detected, he was questioned but could not give an account of the money.

“He was handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.

The alleged offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes three years’ jail term for stealing.