EFCC arrests Fidelity Bank staff over alleged N137m theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan zonal office, has arrested one Kehinde Olumide Agbabiaka, a sales agent of Fidelity Bank Plc.

His arrest was sequel to a petition by the bank in which it was alleged that the suspect "suppressed, diverted and stole" a total sum of N137 million from personal and corporate accounts of a customer in Ibadan.

Filed on August 20, 2019, the petition alleged that Agbabiaka committed the offence between January 2017 and July 2019.

The suspect, who was the account officer attached to the customer, was said to be visiting the business premises of the victim weekly to collect cash with the understanding that he would remit same to his accounts domiciled in the bank.

But, instead of depositing the money, Agbabiaka was said to have at different times remitted only a portion and on many occasions diverted the whole sum to personal use.

"In order to cover his criminal acts, the suspect would rather issue fictitious bank slips to deceive the customer that he truly deposited the sums," the petition said.

This continued until the customer reviewed the statement of his account and reconciled same with the cash collection register.

"It was then they discovered Agbabiaka’s fraudulent deeds, prompting the bank to put up the petition."

The EFCC investigators have established a prima facie case of diversion and stealing against the suspect.

Further investigations also revealed that he had used the suppressed sums to build houses, purchase cars, invest in fixed deposits and insurance policies.

He allegedly gave part of the loot to people as friendly loans.

Some of the items have been recovered and registered as exhibits.

The suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.