The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned an account officer of Polaris Bank, Keshinro Babatunde, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing the sum of N12.6million.

Keshinro is facing a 9-count charge bothering on stealing and forgery contrary to Sections 287, 365, 337 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No 11, 2015.

According to the EFCC prosecutor, Bilkisu Buhari, the account officer allegedly forged a Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank’s cheque No.47423262 dated 16th August, 2018 in the sum of N340, 000 and purported same to have been signed by one Kola Oseni.

The prosecutor said that the defendant, while being an employee of Polaris Bank, allegedly falsified account number: 1770322625 in the possession of his employer and thereafter made a debit entry of N10million in favour of Hilarest Solicitors and purported same to have been made by the order of Baristos Nigeria Limited.

However, as contained in the charge, “that you Keshinro Babatunde did forge Baritos Nigeria Limited document titled ‘Part termination of fixed deposit: 1770522625, dated December 9, 2016 and purported same to have been signed and issued by one Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Oseni.

“That you, Babatunde, also forged a Skye bank cheque No: 47423262 dated August 16, 2018 in the sum of N340, 000 and purported same to have been signed by Alhaji Kola Oseni.”

Furthermore, the charge stated Babatunde sometimes in 2016 in Lagos dishonestly converted the total sum of N10,000,000, property of Alh. Ganiyu Kola Oseni to his own use.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, however, granted bail to the defendant in a bail bond of N5 million, with two sureties.

According to the judge, “one of the sureties must be a level 14 civil servant while other must be a close family relation. They must provide ownership of landed property and evidence of tax payment within the past three years.”

Justice Taiwo thereafter adjourned further hearing of the case till April 8 for trial.