A former staff of Sterling Bank Plc, Samuel Dare Arayode is to spend the next 10 years in a correctional Centre for stealing a customer’s N540,000.
Arayode was also found guilty of forging a Lagos State Polytechnic Higher National Diploma Certificate with which he secured a job with the bank.
The convict, who was sentenced to imprisonment by a Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Fusikat Olamide, Lagos Island, is a resident of Ajah area of Lagos State.
The Court found Aroyode guilty in the three counts charge of stealing and forgery preferred against him by the Police at the Maroko Division, Lekki, Lagos during the trial that spanned about seven years.
The Police during the trial, alleged that Arayode as an employee of Sterling bank PLC converted monies customers entrusted in his care to his personal use instead of remitting same into the bank’s account.
The police added that the discovery was made when Sterling Bank being his employer audited his account books and uncovered the fraud.
The Court was further told that the management of the bank in the course of further investigation, also discovered that the Higher National Diploma Certificate from the Lagos State Polytechnic he used in securing the job with the bank was fake as it was forged.
Accordingly, Arayode was arrested and charged before the court on a three count charges.
Counsel to the Police, Mr Ben Ekundayo Esq., said the offences committed by Arayode were punishable under sections 409, 285 (7) and 363 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The trial Magistrate found Arayode guilty of all the three count charges and sentenced him to 18 months in count one for forgery, seven years in count two for stealing and 18 months in count three. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The Court also ruled that the convict must refund the stolen money to the bank with interest.