Banker arrested for robbery in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command yesterday arrested a worker with the Abestone Microfinance Bank, Abeokuta Branch identified as Olagoke Dare for allegedly arranging with an accomplice, Idowu Tunde to rob him (Olagoke) of the sum of N3m belonging to the bank.

The state Police PRO, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known yesterday in a statement.

Oyeyemi explained that Olagoke and a colleague, Mary Agbejo, had gone to a commercial bank at Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, to withdraw the money.

He said the police at the Ibara divisional headquarters later received a call from residents that armed robbers attacked the duo while they were coming out from the bank with the money.

The police spokesman added that acting on the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Ibara, SP Segun Ajao, mobilised his men and moved to the scene, where Tunde was arrested with the assistance of members of the public.

Oyeyemi said Tunde, who was armed with a dummy gun, informed the police during interrogation that it was Olagoke who informed him that his employer would be sending him and his colleague to withdraw N3m and that he (Tunde) should rob them of the money.

The Police PRO said, “He stated further that it was the same Dare Olagoke who gave him the toy pistol for the operation.

“He confessed further that while Olagoke and his colleague were in the bank, he (Tunde) had already hidden in their car, which was deliberately left opened by Olagoke in accordance with their plan.

“While they got into the car, Tunde explained that he came out suddenly from the backseat and pointed a gun at the lady who was in possession of the money.

“But the lady noticed that the gun did not look original, consequent upon which she dragged the gun with him and raised the alarm. It was the alarm that attracted people who pursued them and called the police.”

He said the state acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Abiodun Alamutu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the two suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.

Oyeyemi added that Alamutu also advised companies to always do background checks on people before employing them.

AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria is committed to its passion of helping to improve the business opportunities of entrepreneurs by availing them of easy access to affordable loans, as well as improve the general financial status of everyone with its deposit accounts. It is a limited liability company duly incorporated in Nigeria under the 2002 Companies and Allied Matters Act, and is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria as a fully-fledged microfinance bank.