N1,120,000 fraud: 60 yr old man arraigned for forgery, stealing

A 60 year old man, Michael Effiong was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting at Ikeja for conspiracy, forgery and stealing, contrary to section 363 Criminal Law, Lagos State, 2011.

The prosecution told the court that Effiong and six others now at large, conspired and forged identity card of one Francis Ike and used it to swap his GSM phone line.

 Thereafter, they used it through online transfer to withdraw the sum of N1,120,000 from his GTbank account into their UBA and Diamond Bank accounts respectively.

According to the complainant, Francis Ike, said that he started noticing disruptions in his telephone line and went to his network’s office, only to be surprised that his line had been swapped.

 He said he was further shocked when he also realized that huge sums had been withdrawn from his bank account.

He explained that it was with the aid of the investigating officer, that the two accounts in which the money was paid were traced and the culprit apprehended.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the offences and was granted bail with the sum of N300,000 and two sureties in like sum.

The presiding Magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi adjourned the matter till May 6, 2017.