Customers & Depositors panic as N2.76 billion frauds hit Guaranty Trust Bank in just one year

Depositors of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) are jittery over the safety of their money as the bank recorded 16,965 fraud case in 2023 alone with a total amount of N2.76 billion involved. This was based on data from the Bank

The breakdown of fraud and forgeries for the financial year is provided below

The latest of such fraud being the alleged hacking into its system by one of its staff, Komolafe Oluwayomi, 45years old who allegedly stole N9.8 million from the account of the Bank for his personal use.

Following the development, the management of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) lodged a complaint of fraud against Komolafe Oluwayomi at the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Bar Beach division, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Accordingly, the DPO arrested Komolafe Oluwayomi and constituted an investigation team led by Inspector Patience Eguabor which carried out diligent probe and later charged Oluwayomi to Court.

Komolafe Oluwayomi, a resident of Unity Close, Ojodu, Lagos from Ondo State is presently facing a two count charge of conspiracy and stealing before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island.

Counsel to the Police, Ben Ekundayo told the Court that the defendant committed the offence during working hours at the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc located at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ekundayo further told the Court that Oluwayomi betrayed the trust reposed in him by GTBank which was his employer as the officer in charge of payment of drivers’ retirement benefits by fraudulently including the name and account number of his friend in the retirement benefits payroll and used it to transfer the sum of N9,989,000 into his friend’s account as if his friend is a beneficiary of the retirement benefits.

The court was also told that Oluwayomi later transferred the money from his friend’s account to his own personal account domiciled at GTB Bank and converted it for his use.

The counsel said the management of GTBank uncovered the fraud when they audited the drivers’ retirement payroll accounts.

Ekundayo said the offences committed by Oluwayomi were punishable under sections 411 and 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, Komolafe Oluwayomi however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding Magistrate, M.A. Owunmi granted the accused N2m bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to 11 June 2024.

The Court also ordered that the defendant to be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility pending when he perfect his bail conditions.