POS Operator Docked For Stealing Customer’s ATM & Emptying Money In Bank Account 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Police operatives from the Area M Command, Idimu of the Lagos Command, have arrested a 27-year old POS operator, Chukwuemeka Okondu, for allegedly stealing a customer’s bank ATM and emptying his account in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the victim, Mr. Augustine Ezenwani, went to the operator’s POS shop on 26th October 2024, at No. 37, Ire-Akari Street, Isheri Oshun area of Lagos, to withdraw money.

However, after the withdrawal, the operator gave him another person’s ATM card and withheld his own, which he used to withdraw all the money in his First Bank account.

The alleged scam was discovered after the complainant received withdrawal alerts until the money in the account finished. He reported the matter to the Police. The Police moved into action, eventually tracked, arrested the POS operator and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During interrogation, he was unable to deny because of the overwhelming evidence against him and he reportedly made confessional statements.

The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace,  stealing and fraud under the Criminal Laws of the State.

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, Chukwuemeka Okundu ‘M’ on the same date, time, aforementioned Magisterial District, did defraud Mr. Augustine Ezenwani by stealing his ATM card when he came to make withdrawal at your POS shop and emptied his First Bank account and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II :”That you, Chukwuemeka Okundu ‘M’ on the 26th October 2024 at No. 37, Ire-Akari Street, Isheri Oshun, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal ATM card, being the property of one Mr. Augustine Ezenwani and emptied his First Bank account and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 218 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT III: “That you, Chukwuemeka Okundu ‘M’ on the same date, time, and place in the mentioned Magisterial, did conduct yourself likely to cause breach of public peace by taking Mr Augustine Ezenwani’s ATM card and gave him another ATM card that was stolen from another person, an offence contrary and punishable under Section 168 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 16th December, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.