Man, 43, In Trouble Over N50m Mistakenly Paid Into His Bank Account

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

A 43-year old man, Ndiong George Bassey, has refused to refund the sum of N50 million, which was mistakenly paid into his bank account four years ago insisting that it was prayer answered by God, having served the company for several years meritoriously in Lagos State before he resigned. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the company known as Promasidor Nigeria Limited located at Cowbell Way, Isolo Industrial Estate, Ilasamaja area of Lagos. 

Mr. Bassey was a staff of the company years ago and was said to have been praying for financial breakthrough so that he would raise money, be independent and to own his own business. 

The prayer was said to be going on before the company erroneously transferred the money into his account. He resigned immediately and left the company in peace with the hope that his prayer was answered and set up his own business. 

However, at some point in 2022, the company discovered that  the money that they were supposed to have transferred to the National Union of Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUBTE) was wrongly paid into Bassey’s First Bank account with  2001169497 and he converted it to his own use.

When the company realized that they paid the money into Bassey’s account, they reported to the Police at Ilasamaja Division. The Police then tracked Bassey and eventually arrested him for interrogation. 

In the course of investigation, the Police asked him to transfer the money to the company but he refused and told the Police that he had already spent the money because it was prayer answered as they did not ask for the money for several years. 

He also told the Police that before the money was erroneously paid into her account, he was facing serious financial challenges and had been praying for assistance and eventually received the bank alert for the money. 

Having listened to his presentation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Isolo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence. 

When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty. 

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

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kasumu, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum. 

He was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 31st May, 2022, for trial.