The Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, has arrested two men, Oladapo Oyeniyi and Kunle Ayotoye, for allegedly defrauding a United Kingdom bank of $1,200,000 under false pretence.
The police said Oyeniyi, 48, and Ayotoye, 45, stole the money between December 2012 and January 2013, during their employment at a firm at No. 3, Oje Imsisnvan Street, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
The duo, who were of unknown addresses, were arraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate A. O. Awogboro of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.
They are standing trial on three- count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud, according to a charge sheet marked A/11/2017
Prosecuting police officer, Inspector Amedu Adoga, told the court that the defendants and others at large conspired and issued a fake instruction to Habib Bank domiciled in the UK to transfer $1.2m to 12 beneficiaries.
Adoga accused them of issuing the instruction to the bank under the guise that it was their employer, Mr. Chris Ejike, that issued the said instruction and with the intention that it be acted upon as genuine.
“The bank believed that the instruction emanated from the defendant’s employer and carried it out,” Adoga said.