Two members of staff of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Tiamiu Lukman and Shogaolu Sherif, were recently arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for an alleged N30 million fraud.
Lukman, 48, of Block 8, Flat 1, LSDPC Estate, Ikotun, Lagos and Sherif 30, of Block D, Flat 11, Alhaji Masha Kilo Road, Surulere, Lagos, are being tried before Mrs A. O. Sholadoye on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, fraud and stealing.
Prosecuting Inspector Jimoh Joseph alleged that the defendants conspired with others at large to commit the the fraud at an Ecobank office in Lagos between August 1, 2013 and June 2016.
He said Lukman, head of human resources, compensation and benefits of Ecobank, allegedly inserted “names that are alien” in the bank’s records, including their account numbers and defrauded the bank of N30million.
He listed the names and account numbers as: Veromica Okaocha 0541022388, Ayodele Kayode 1482002534 and Ayodele Austine 2263002679.
“Lukman fraudulently credited the accounts with the N30m knowing that the owners’ names were not on the list of beneficiaries of the compensation compiled by the bank and thereafter stole the money,” the prosecutor said.
He added that Lukman shared the stolen money, which was the property of the bank, with Sherif.
However, the defendants denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Sholadoye granted them N5 million bail with two sureties each in the like sum. One of the sureties must be a level 16 civil servant. The case was adjourned till August 10.
