Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday has convicted and sentenced a former bank cashier, Mr. Ebenezer Adeolu Alonge, alongside his wife, Mrs Isakunle Olamide Oyinlola, and his mother-in-law, Isakunle Eunice Moradeke, to a cumulative 60-year jail term over charges bordering on conspiracy and theft.
The presiding judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, in his ruling held that the trio were guilty of the 12 counts of conspiracy and stealing brought against them, which is against the section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Laws Cap 16 Laws of Ekiti State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zone, had in February 2018 approached the High Court, Ado-Ekiti to demand the conviction of Alonge and his cronies who conspired to steal depositors’ fund to the tune of N21m.
Sometimes in February, 2018 the bank where Alonge served as a bank cashier received a complaint bothering on the financial impropriety. According to the EFCC, on February 15, 2017 a customer lodged a total of N62, 400.00 into her account but the transaction could not be traced to the customer’s account even after the customer presented a copy of the slip signed by the prime suspect.
The EFCC, in its investigation also revealed that there was a turnover of N21m as deposits from other customers into the account of Alonge’s wife’s, while some other sums were traced to his mother-in-law’s account.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before the court on Dec 12, 2018, on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. The trio, during the court proceedings, however pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Also, the EFCC, in the course of the trial, called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove their case.
Following the end of the hearings from both parties, Justice Ogunmoye, in his judgement, ruled that the prosecution team which was led by Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleiman, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the suspects were guilty of the allegations levelled against them.
The judge added that the suspects failed to extricate themselves from the evidence before the court. Ogunmoye then convicted the suspects of all the 12 counts charges and were sentenced to five years on each count.
The cumulative 60 years prison terms will run concurrently.
The court also ordered Alonge to forfeit his house, which shall be sold, and the proceeds used to restitute the bank.
