MICHAEL AKINOLA
A staff of First Bank PLC, Marina Branch, Lagos State, Banniya Babatunde Anthony, has allegedly bolted away with the bank’s money worth millions of Naira and went into hiding.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that following the ugly incident the management of the bank has moved against his guarantor, Mowobi Sunday, for falsely claiming his integrity before he was employed as staff.
The 47-year old guarantor, Sunday, has been arrested and charged before Court for allegedly acknowledging the deed of recognizance for Anthony, who is now at large, for him to secure a job in the bank.
According to the Police, Anthony had applied to secure a job with the bank, went for interview and was employed. But before then, Anthony was asked to provide someone who will sign as his guarantor before he would resume work and he brought Sunday.
However, after he was employed, he reportedly bolted away with the bank’s money and went into hiding.
The matter was reported to the Police and Sunday was summoned as his Guarantor to produce him as he entered into deed of recognizance. He told the Police that he does not know much about Anthony before he stood as his Guarantor.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace by acknowledging false liability on Anthony under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, then moved a motion asking the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty before the Court to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood.
The matter was adjourned till 16th May, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions .