How Banker, wife, one other diverted customers’ N21 million

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told an Ekiti High Court how a former bank cashier, Ebenezer Adeolu Alonge, his wife and mother-in-law diverted N21 million deposited by customers.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the offences were “contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws Cap 16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

The statement said: “The journey to the dock started when the illicit activities of Ebenezer got exposed through a petition to the EFCC from one of the new generation banks alleging that one of her staff, Ebenezer Adeolu Alonge was involved in fraudulent activities.

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“It was alleged that sometime in February 2018, the bank received a complaint concerning the financial impropriety of the sum of N62, 400.00 in respect of a customer’s account.

“According to the petitioner, on February 15, 2017 a customer lodged the said sum into her account but the transaction could not be traced in the customer’s account even after the customer presented a copy of the slip signed by Alonge.

“In the course of investigation, the said transaction was allegedly traced to Ebenezer Alonge’s wife’s account.

“Further investigation however, revealed that there was a turnover of over N21 million as deposit from other customers in his wife’s account.

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“Also, it was alleged that other sums were traced to his mother-in-law’s account, who was also a beneficiary of the fraudulent act.”

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The EFCC said in the course of trial, it called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove its case.

The statement added: “The convicts were found guilty on all the 12 charges and sentenced to five years on each count. The cumulative 60 years prison terms will, however, run concurrently.

The three convicts, Isakunle Olamide Oyinlola and the mother-in-law, Isakunle Eunice Moradeke were thereafter sentenced to 60 years imprisonment by Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye.

“Justice Ogunmoye, in his judgment, ruled that the prosecution team led by Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleiman proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and that the convicts had failed to extricate themselves from the self-evidenced proofs before the court.

“The court also ordered Alonge to forfeit his house, which shall be sold and the proceeds used to restitute the bank.”