A manager in one of the branches of First Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, Osun State, Mr. Adeniyi Talabi, has allegedly been arrested by the state Police Command.
Talabi was reportedly taken into custody for allegedly stealing a sum of N650m belonging to 35 customers of the bank.
Yemisi Opalola, the Command’s spokesperson in statement, claimed that the suspect perpetrated the alleged fraud by obtaining the amount under false pretences from the victims and stealing the amount through an illegal transaction called Proof of Funds.
Proof of funds (POF) refers to a document or documents that demonstrate a person or entity has the ability and funds available for a specific transaction.
Opalola stated that the suspect has been suspended by the bank, adding that an investigation into the case was progressing smoothly.
She also said Talabi and his accomplices would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The statement reads in part: “The Osun State Police Command in its efforts to rid off criminal elements from the state has arrested a serial fraudster, one Adeniyi Sunday Talabi, ‘m’ 47 years, a resident of Army Barracks Area, Kelebe, Iragbiji Road, Osogbo, a manager in one of the First Bank PLC branches in Osogbo, for an offence of fraud, Obtaining money under false pretence (OBT), Conversion and Stealing amounting to the sum of N650,850,000 in an illegal product called PROOF of FUNDS which involved a total number of 35 victims (people).
“It is worthy to note that the said suspect has been suspended by the First Bank Nigeria Plc, his former employer. Investigation into the case has since commenced and the suspect and his accomplices will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”
She also said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Umar, has re-assured residents of the command’s commitment to rid the state of criminal elements and warned perpetrators of crimes that Osun would not be a haven or a hibernating ground for them.
