Man, 54, held over fraud

The police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Lagos State has arrested a 54-year-old man, Godwin Diavel, for allegedly withdrawing money from customers’ accounts without their knowledge.

Daily Trust gathered that trouble started for the suspect when he went to a bank at Ogba area of Lagos State on Thursday, March 20, 2014, and attempted to withdraw N500,000.00 from the account of one Saheed Ademola Adegbola, with a forged signature on the withdrawal slip.

A statement issued by the SFU Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, alleged that upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that when he visited a branch of the bank three weeks before the incident, he obtained a document belonging to the customer which aided him in the crime.

Investigation conducted by the bank revealed that the suspects had made several other successful withdrawals from various accounts.

The SFU spokesperson said sometime in February 2014, the suspect was arrested at Ejigbo branch of the bank, where he identified himself as Peter Okoro, while attempting to seek information on another customer’s account.

“Also on October 4, 2013, he was caught at Opebi branch where he identified himself as Samson Omobo and attempted to withdraw N300,000.00 from a customer’s account.

Similarly, on January 29, 2014, the suspect went to Ilupeju branch of the bank, impersonated one Sunday Onwuabaizo and withdrew the sum of N470,000.00 from his account.

“On November 19, 2013, he was at Abule Egba branch of the same bank where he impersonated one Chinedu E. Onwutaly and withdrew the sum of N220,000.00,” the statement added.