The special anti-robbery squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos has arrested a 45-year-old bullion van driver for allegedly stealing an equivalent of N18.1 million in foreign currencies from a second generation bank where he worked.
Segun Fatokun was said to be a staff at the Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island branch of the bank, where he worked as head of cash movement department. He allegedly stole $100,000 and 10,000 Euros, while himself and five of his colleagues were off loading monies from other branches, on March 8, 2013.
The suspect ensured N18.1 million equivalent was left behind inside the bullion van after the cash had been offloaded. It was gathered that he later hid it in a friend’s house at Oworonshoki area of state.
One of the bank cashiers who took part in the offloading discovered that the money was missing, on March 11, 2013 and he alerted the authorities who brought in the police, sources revealed.
Fatokun and five of his colleagues suspected to be involved in the theft were arrested and detained at Bar-beach police station, after which they were transferred to SARS for interrogation.
A source who craved anonymity said, operatives at SARS while interrogating the suspects, found inconsistencies in Fatokun’s statement and isolated him.
“The suspect confessed to have stolen the money and hide it in his friend, identified as Jide’s house in Oworosoki.
“Then, the SARS operatives proceeded to Jide’s house and recovered 100,000 US dollars and 10,000 Euros equivalent to 18.1 Million Naira hidden under the bed while Jide escaped,” the source added.
While speaking on the theft, Fatokun said he was led by the devil to steal the money.
“I have served that bank for 13 years as one of its senior drivers and I don’t know what came over me before I stole that money.
I have four children and my wife is late. Please I am not a thief I don’t know what came over me. I am a contract staff in the bank and this is not the first time the bank has forgotten money in my bullion van and I returned the money to the bank, but I wasn’t given any thing as appreciation.”
“Some of my colleagues laughed at me for returning the money and I told them that I am not a thief. I didn’t know what came over me this time and I regretted my action.”
