By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat Business and Data tracking desk)
A 36-year-old Banker Joseph Promise, who allegedly stole N3.6 million from the accounts of two deceased customers of a bank, was on Wednesday docked in Lagos , the commercial hub of Nigeria at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court. Promise is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud.
When brought to court, the Prosecutor, Inspector Ejime Okete revealed that the alleged heartless defendant allegedly committed the offences between Feb. 2012 and Jan. 20. Okete said that the defendant conspired with others still at large, and stole N3.6 million from the accounts of two deceased customers of one of Nigeria’s leading Banks, according to NAN reports.
He said: “The defendant…, did unlawfully link the bank verification numbers of different accounts of two deceased bank customers and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N3.6 million without the consent of the deceased family.”
The prosecutor who said that the offences contravened sections 20 (3), 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 asked the court to subject Promise to face the full wrath and penalties stipulated in the violation of the relevant sections of the Criminal Law.
But the defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The Magistrate, Mrs H. O. Omisore, granted Promise a bail in the sum of N400, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Omisore further adjourned the case until April 27, for further mention.
Alleged bankers involvement and insider unethical financial practices have been a subject of grave concern to stakeholders and bank customers for a while amidst growing calls on regulatory agencies to encourage financial institutions to strengthen, and enhance their internal institutional frameworks in order to hamper insider financial abuses.
Financial analysts believe that such measures would help kick-out suspected bad eggs from the banking sector in order to avoid dragging the esteemed reputation of many financial institutions into unpleasant controversies.
