N21.8m Fraud: Heritage Bank Staff Gets 7 Years Sentence

A Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court, Yaba, has sentenced an Account Officer with the Heritage Bank, Omosanyin Eniola, to seven years imprisonment over a N21.8 million fraud.

Chief Magistrate, Linda Yetunde Balogun convicted the accused after finding him guilty of two out of seven counts charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing of cheques made against him by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos.

In committing the 40 years old banker to prison, Chief Magistrate Balogun held that the prosecution successfully proved the charges of conspiracy and N21.8 million fraud against the banker beyond every reasonable doubt.

The Court however acquitted him of the four counts charge of forging Spring Bank cheques, which he used in perpetrating the criminal acts.

In her final judgment, Chief Magistrate Balogun sentenced the banker to a year imprisonment on count one without an option of fine, and seven years on count two, but with an option of paying back the sum of N21.8 million, as restitution to the fraud victim.

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) through its prosecutor, Daniel Apochi, had dragged the convict before the court on a seven count charge of conspiracy, fraud, and forging of Spring Bank’s cheques.

Apochi informed the court that the convict, Omosanyin committed the offences between 2011 and 2014, while working at Heritage Bank’s headquarters, Lagos, as an Account Officer.

The trial had the prosecutor calling three witnesses that included the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) Mr. Jim Omoruyi, the fraud victim, one Adeleke and an official of the bank.

Several exhibits which include: A copy of petition by Heritage Bank to the police; Convict’s confessional statement; Victim’s statement of account; Some of the Spring Bank’s cheques used in withdrawing the money and others, which were tendered and admitted by the court.

The two counts which the banker was jailed read: “That you, OMOSANYIN ENIOLA ‘M’ while working with Heritage Bank Ltd; with Headquarters in Lagos and charge with the responsibility as an Account Officer, between 2011 and 2014, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst with other persons, now at large, to commit a felony to wit; stealing and forgery; and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, OMOSANYIN ENIOLA ‘M’ while working with Heritage Bank Ltd; with Headquarters in Lagos and charged with the responsibility of an Account Officer, between 2011 and 2014, with intent to defraud, fraudulently withdrew the sum of N21, 800, 000.00 (Twenty-One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from Heritage Bank Ltd. and converted the money to your “own use; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 278 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011 and punishable under Section 285 (7) the same law.”