How banker stole customers’ N650m, police reveal

The Police Command in Osun State, on Tuesday, has arrested Mr Adeniyi Talabi, a bank manager in one of the branches of a first-generation bank in Osogbo, for reportedly stealing a sum of N650m belonging to 35 customers of the bank.

Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson of the command, revealed that the suspect perpetrated the fraud by acquiring the amount under false pretence from the victims and stealing the amount through an illegal transaction called proof of funds.

Opalola who revealed that the suspect had been suspended by the bank, added that an investigation into the case was progressing smoothly.

She also said Talabi and his accomplices would be arraigned to court upon completion of an investigation.

The statement partly read, “The Osun State Police Command in its efforts to rid off criminal elements from the state has arrested a serial fraudster, one Adeniyi Sunday Talabi, ‘m’ 47 years, a resident of Army Barracks Area, Kelebe, Iragbiji Road, Osogbo, a manager in one of the First Bank PLC branches in Osogbo for an offence of fraud, Obtaining money under false pretence (OBT), Conversion and Stealing amounting to the sum of N650, 850,000 in an illegal product called PROOF of FUNDS which involved a total number of 35 victims (people).

“It is worthy to note that the said suspect has been suspended by the First Bank Nigeria Plc, his former employer. Investigation into the case has since commenced and the suspect and his accomplices will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”

She also said Mr Mohammed Umar, the state Commissioner of Police, re-assured residents of the command’s dedicated to rid the state of criminal elements and cautioned perpetrators of crimes that Osun would not be a haven or a hibernating ground for them.