Seven BankPHB Staffs Arrested For N75M Fraud

The suspects include Idowu Makunjuola, Akinwale Olugbemi, Ajunwa Solomion, Peter Tarie, Isaac Ukpe, Kehinde Aiyebodofor and Gabriel Onigboke.Also arrested in connection with the fraud are Abiola Ologodade, Bode Olofin, and Ajayi Abayomi; suspected to be the brain behind the fraud.The suspects were arrested by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba on January 28, following a complaint by the bank.Spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Samuel Jinadu, said the suspects were able to hack into the accounts of customers with a device called the Keylogger.


The scam
According to the police, a Keylogger, popularly known as an extractor, is used by fraudsters to access the passwords of customers and other bank transactions illegally; and at their convenience, they can withdraw huge sum from such accounts.
“The kingpin of this syndicate is Ajayi Abayomi, an ex staff of the new generation bank,” said Mr Jinadu. “From our investigations, they specialise in hacking into the account of the bank with the use of a device called keglogger. Ajayi has an insider in the bank who he gives the keylogger to, and he also recruited some beneficiaries who opened accounts with the bank. When the insider studies the modus operandi of the bank and when no one is noticing, the insider will insert the keglogger into the desktops of the staff and extract information from the desktops. They successfully withdrew N75million. The management of the bank noticed that a huge sum was siphoned and they reported to the police.”

The denials

Mr Abayomi, however denied the allegation. “I don’t know anything about this crime, the police is trying to rope me in,” he said. “I got the keylogger through a parcel for some people in the bank, so I don’t know anything about the money.”

Mr Olugbemi, and Administrative Manager of the bank, also said he is innocent.“I am the admin manager at the Surulere Branch of the bank,” he said. “That day, 21st of January, one Isaac, who works with our maintenance department, came to me with a device. He asked me to charge it for him, on my desktop. I went to see our manager and before I came back, I called Isaac to come and collect the device that I was going to the local government council. Shortly after, our corporate auditor called me and asked me about the device. I told him that I was charging it so they said I should follow them to Panti, that I will explain myself there. It was when we got to Panti that I saw the other suspects. There is one man called Alake, who allegedly masterminded this fraud, he can explain better. But as for me, they just asked me to charge the device I never knew it was used for fraud.”

The confession

Mr Ukpe, a maintenance officer with the head office of the bank, said the fraud was well planned. “It was Abayomi that came to me around 15th of December and discussed the keglogger with me,” he said. “He told me to contact somebody working in the bank and I contacted Akin. It was Abayomi and I that went to Akin to give him the device at their Bode Thomas Branch at Surulere, so the fraud was well planned. Abayomi told him to insert the device and he should leave everything to him. We were to get certain percentage if the deal succeeded but now I feel bad about my role in the fraud.”

Mr Jinadu said the suspects will be charged to court soon.