By Abiola Olawale
The Osun State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of a former branch manager of First Bank, Mr Adeniyi Talabi, over his alleged involvement in a huge fraud case to the tune of N650 million.
Talabi, a former manager of one of the branches of First Bank in Osogbo, was alleged to have embezzled N650 million belonging to 35 bank customers.
According to a statement by the Osun Police command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, the suspect allegedly carried out the fraud by deceitfully obtaining the funds from the victims and misappropriating them through an illicit transaction known as proof of funds.
Opalola revealed that the activities of Talabi were reported to the command and have since been suspended by the First Bank.
Furthermore, she assured that Talabi and any accomplices involved would face prosecution in court once the investigation is concluded.
The statement partly reads: “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 the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Umar, re-assured residents of the command’s commitment to rid the state of criminal elements and warned perpetrators of crimes that Osun would not be a haven or a hibernating ground for them.
