Man, 43, Remanded For Swindling Microfinance Bank of N2.4m With Dud Cheque

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 43-year old man, Ejekeh Mark, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling Richway MicroFinance Bank to the tune of over N2.4m with dud cheque.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Police operatives from the Abattoir Division have arrested Mark and charged him over his alleged conduct against the bank.

According to the Police, he borrowed money from the bank with an agreement to pay the money at a specific period and when the time was due for Mark to refund the money, he had no money.

He then prepared and gave the company a Skye Bank Cheque knowing fully that he had no money in the account and went into hiding since 28th May, 2024.

The alleged scam was discovered when the cheque was taken to the Bank to clear the money and it was discovered he had no money in his account for quite sometime.

The matter was reported to the Police. Operatives trailed,, eventually arrested and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted to have committed the alleged offence. He claimed that he had no money to refund the bank and so he decided to issue the bank a dud cheque.

The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charge read:

“That you, Ejekeh Mark ‘M’ on the 28th of May, 2019 in the Ikeja Magisterial district, did issue a Dud cheque No.30249570 in the sum of Two Million, Four hundred thousand nine hundred and ten Naira ninety four kobo (N2, 400, 910, 94k) of Skye Bank to one Richway Microfinance Bank but failed at the receiving bank, due to insufficient funds and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 321(B) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2025.”

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Evelyn Ememua, 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, Mr M.A. Adegbaye, granted him bail in the sum of N300,000 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 19th 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.