A Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos, has sentenced an account officer at Heritage Bank, Omosanyin Eniola, to seven years imprisonment for N21.8 million fraud.

Chief Magistrate Linda Yetunde Balogun sentenced Omosanyin after he was found guilty of two out of the seven-count charge filed against him by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos. The Police had accused him of conspiracy, fraud and stealing of cheques.

Magistrate Balogun held that the prosecution successfully proved the charges of conspiracy and N21.8 million fraud against the banker beyond every reasonable doubt, and therefore sentenced the 40-year-old banker, to seven years imprisonment.

The magistrate, however, freed the banker from four counts bordering on forging Spring Bank cheques, which he used in perpetrating the criminal acts.

The banker was sent to a year imprisonment on count one without the option of fine, and seven years on count two, but with an option of paying the sum of N21.8 million, as restitution to the fraud victim.

The prosecuting counsel, Daniel Apochi, told the court that the convict committed the offences between 2011 and 2014 while working at the Heritage Bank’s headquarters, in Lagos, as an Account Officer.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses, who included the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) Mr. Jim Omoruyi, the fraud victim, one A. Adeleke and an official of the bank.

The prosecutor also tendered several exhibits, which include: a copy of the petition by Heritage Bank to the police, the convict’s confessional statement, the victim’s statement of account, some of the Spring Bank’s cheques used in withdrawing the money and other, which were admitted by the court.

The prosecution said his offence is punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. It also contravened Section 278 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011 and was punishable under Section 285 (7) of the same law.