Keystone Bank staffer in dock for ATM fraud

A staffer of Keystone Bank Plc, Mrs. Chinonye Okafoagu, has been accused of stealing N3 million from the bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

Okafoagu, 33, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Salawu of an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and false modification of ATM data.

The police, in a charge marked, N/73/2017, alleged that the banker and others now at large, committed the offence on March 7, last year, at the FESTAC branch of the bank. The defendant allegedly, without lawful authority, modified the ATM’s data and stopped the machine from dispensing money, “in a bid to steal the N3m.”

The offences, according to the police, are contrary to and punishable under sections 409, 285(7), 389(1), and 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

In the charge marked N/73/2017, the accused alongside others at large were alleged to have committed the offence on March 7, 2016, at the Festac branch of the bank.

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Police alleged that the accused without lawful authority modified the ATM’s data thereby stopping the machine from dispensing money to the bank’s customers.

She was also accused of forging the name of one Elizabeth, who was supposed to handle the bank’s ATM machine on the said date, and also entered her name in the ATM’s staff register.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the counts in the charge.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Salawu, admitted her to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in the same sum.

The magistrate ordered the sureties to furnish the court with evidence of three years tax paid to the Lagos State government and evidence of their means of livelihood. Their addresses are also to be verified by the court’s registrar.

The matter was adjourned till September 25 for commencement of trial.