300 Women Besiege Court Over Fraud By Microfinance Bank

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

There was unusual presence of litigants after over 300 women on Tuesday besieged Ejigbo Magistrates court, Lagos, protesting after they were defrauded of millions of Naira by the staff of a microfinance bank in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that their presence was in connection with the arrest of the three staff of the microfinance bank that were trailed, arrested by the police and charged to court. The women protested, chanted war songs and shouted “ole ole” meaning thief. They demanded their monies back from the suspects at the court premises.

The three suspects were two females, Bisoye Amoo, Tolulope Bankole and a man, Mr. Miseru Gbenga, who claimed to be staff of Golden Grace Investment which they used to defraud the victims.

It was gathered that the victims were making contribution to the suspects and seven others now at large with the promise of giving them certain interest at the maturity period. It was learnt that the suspects offered over 60 percent bonus for every amount deposited with the microfinance bank whose office was located at Idimu/ Ejigbo Road, Idimu, Lagos. Few of the victims initially were given the bonus which convinced them and they mobilised other women who paid to the suspects to reap also. P.M.EXPRESS learnt that after over 700 victims deposited the money with the suspects, they shut their office and ran away.

The alleged fraud was reported to the Area Commander, Area M, Idimu, ACP Austines Akika. The Area Commander then mobilised one female DSP, Agatha Eze, and her team to arrest the suspects. P.M.EXPRESS scooped that it took lots of intelligence gathering and investigations before police operatives arrested the suspects at their various hideouts outside Lagos.

It was learnt that the suspects had already admitted collecting such monies but claimed that they were not the only people involved. Some of the victims included: Mrs. Ganiyat Ogunshola, Idowu Olayiwola, Ogungbe Doris, Iyabo Basirat who were duped N8m alone and many others.

They were charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates court for fraud, forgery and stealing.
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, inspector G Simon informed the court that many people were duped as such the number of victims was increasing daily.

However, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J Layeni granted them bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered the suspects to be remanded at the Area M Command, Idimu, Lagos, for further and proper investigations and adjourned the matter till 4 July, 2018.

It was the news of the arrest of the suspects that made the victims to besiege the court to demand for their monies. Meanwhile, the police were said to have opened a booklet at the Area M Command, Idimu to take down the names of the victims as it was said to be increasing as the information spread.