MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos have arrested two Ecobank staff, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon, 28 and Lateef Bamidele Tobi, 30 for allegedly stealing customers money from their accounts, which ran into millions of Naira.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects were arrested and charged for tempering with the money at different times since 2022 till 2025 when the Bank management discovered the alleged fraud and handed them over to the Police for prosecution.
They were consequently charged before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for conspiracy and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon M’, Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while being members of staff of Ecobank Pic and others now at large from December 2022 to February 2025 at different times at Ecobank PLC Lagos in Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit, stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon ‘M’ Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while being members of staff of Ecobank PLC and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of N480,000.00k from the Ecobank Plc account No. 3121064440 belonging to Wada Inusa ‘m’ property of Ecobank Plc and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287(7) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon M’, Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while still staff of Ecobank PlC and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of N519,000.00k from the Ecobank PLC account No. 0191043234 belonging to Yusuf Ramon Bolanle ‘m’ property of Ecobank PlC and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287(7) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon ‘M’ Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while still staff of Ecobank PLC and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of N5,959,161.25.00k from the Ecobank PLC account No. 079200041 belonging to Shinto Nig. Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287(7) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
COUNT V: “That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon ‘M’, Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while being members of staff of Ecobank PLC and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of N5,316,000.00k from the Ecobank PLC account. No. 4203007009 belonging to Mashi Musa Kaita ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 287(7) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
COUNT VI:”That you, Mufutau Olamilekan Ramon ‘M’, Lateef Bamidele Tobi ‘M’ while still staff of Ecobank Plc and others now at large on the same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of N2,800,000.00 from the Ecobank Plc account No. 0261060260 belonging to Olatoyosi Oladimeji ‘m’ and thereby committed offence, punishable under Section 287(7) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Paul Ugorji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs.O.M. Ajayi, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.