2 Diamond Bank Staff Remanded In Prison For Forging Customers’ Signatures

Two workers of Diamond Bank PLC, Okoh Ebele and Charles Amadi, were yesterday arraigned before a Karu Chief Magistrates Court, Abuja, for allegedly forging the signatures of four consumers. The accused persons withdrew N250,000 from one of the customer’s account. Prosecutor Garba Mohammed told the court that the accused were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by servant, forgery and theft. He the offences contravened Sections 97, 314, 364 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Mohammed said that one Anthony Anaolu, a worker with Diamond Bank PLC, Area 11, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station.

He said Anaolu reported that the accused persons were staff of Wuse Zone 4, branch, entrusted with depositors’ money.

“The accused conspired among themselves and revealed the signatures of four different customers operating different accounts in the same bank.

“They scanned the signatures and sent to one Charles, whose surname is still unknown and now at-large, with the intention to withdraw the customer’s money deposited with the bank.

“In the course of their actions, they succeeded in withdrawing the sum of N250,000 from the account of one L.A Mittee, through one Amarachi Joshia, of Wuse Zone 5, Abuja,’’ he said.

Joshia is presently also standing trial for alleged theft in the same court.

He said that during police investigation, the accused persons admitted committing the offence.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Counsel to the accused, Charles Achillo, therefore, made an oral application for their bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Ahmed Shaibu, refused the application for bail and ordered that they should be remanded in prison.

“The offence of forgery is a serious crime. It has to come by way of motion and not an oral application.

“The case stands adjourned to Jan. 16,2013 for hearing,” Shaibu said. (NAN)