Female Microfinance Bank Staff Docked For Diverting Customers Money

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 37-year old female staff of Shepherd Trust Microfinance Bank, Esther Taiwo Remilekun, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly diverting the bank’s N2.2m belonging to customers. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between the month of July and October, 2025, at Ogba area of Lagos, where the bank is located.

According to the Police, the female suspect was employed by the bank to be collecting money from their customers and remit same to the bank.

However, she collected some money and did not remit same to the bank for several months until the customers went to the bank to withdraw their money, only to be told that there was no record of the payment.

The matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command, Ogba. The Police operatives moved into action, arrested the female staff and detained her at the Command for interrogation over her alleged conduct.

After thorough interrogation, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT I:-“That you, Esther Taiwo Remilekun ‘f’, between the month of July to October, 2025 at Ogba, Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II:-“That you, Esther Taiwo Remilekun ‘f’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did unlawfully steal total sum of two million two hundred and seventy four thousand seven hundred Naira only (N2,274,700.00), collected from different customers of Shepherd Trust Microfinance Bank and failed to remit same to the bank and unlawfully converted to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

She pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted her bail with two 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.