Operatives of Rapid Response Squad of
the Lagos State Police Command on
Friday arrested a lady, her boyfriend,
and two others for stealing an
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card
which belonged to one Musa Alli.
They also allegedly withdrew over
N300,000 from the account.
The lady, Bamigboye Imoleayo, 24, was
arrested by the operatives at a club
(name withheld) in Surulere area of
Lagos for the crime. The police later
arrested three other accomplices
including her boyfriend, Adeyinka
Ayodele, the same day in Itori, Ogun
State.
Mr. Alli, the victim, who reported the
case at the RRS’s office in Alausa, said
he met the suspect at a club in
Surulere penultimate Friday, the police
said in a statement on Sunday.
He said the lady stole his ATM card,
after memorizing his Personal
Identification Number (PIN) during an
online transfer of funds into his
friend’s account.
“I thought I had misplaced the card not
knowing that the lady had stolen it and
thereafter glimpsed at the PIN for
withdrawal,” Mr. Alli said.
The victim said he was shocked on
Saturday afternoon when he received
alerts amounting to N90,000
withdrawals.
“While I was still contemplating on
how to deal with the issue, I got
another debit alert for buying two
Infinix phones totalling N84, 000, I was
confused and shocked. I didn’t know
what action to take on a Saturday
evening.”
On Sunday, Mr. Alli said there was another debit
alert on his phone.
“I couldn’t pin the crime to the lady I met at the
club,” he said.
“I lodged a complaint on Monday morning at my
bank and I was told that the withdrawals and
shopping were legitimately made by me.
“I reported the incident at the RRS’s office on
Monday after informing my bank. My emphasis to
the police were the withdrawals and shopping
totalling N300, 000.
“It was unbelievable for me when I was face to face
with the suspect, the lady I met at the club. And, she
explained everything.”
The police said Ms. Imoleayo admitted, during
interrogations, that she pocketed the victim’s ATM
card when he slept off during their conversation at
night in the club.
“Initially, I had spied on and crammed his PIN when
he was sending money to his colleague via mobile
app,” she said.
“I committed this offence because I was so desperate
to re-stock my shop at Wasimi in Ogun State, and
also to take care of my only daughter.
“I never had a rethink while committing the crime.
Although, I regretted my action now.”
The suspect said her boyfriend accompanied her
while she withdrew and spent the money from the
ATM card.
“After I spied on his PIN during a particular banking
transaction on his phone, I intended to only
withdraw N20, 000 out of his bank account and then
destroy the card,” said Ms. Imoleayo.
“However, when I withdrew the money, and checked
the account balance, I was shocked to see his
balance. Afterwards, I withdrew another N70,000
again making N90,000 that day.
“Then, the following day, I called my boyfriend, who
instructed me not to destroy the card, but I should
come straight to Itori, Ogun State, where he resides.
“On getting to him, he called two of his friends,
Abimbola Akintanna and Owolabi Bamidele, to use
the ATM at any nearest bank.”
She added that they took the card to a shopping mall
in Abeokuta, the following day, where they bought
phones and clothes.
“We thought by going this far nobody could trace us.
We bought two android phones for N84,000 at a
phone store,” she said.
“We proceeded to a boutique where four of us
bought clothes worth N126,000. I recharged my
phone with another N2,500 worth of recharge card.
The money spent from the account was over
N300,000.”
Two Android phones, eight pairs of trousers and
shirts were recovered from the suspects during a
search of their houses.
Dolapo Badmus, the Lagos State police spokesperson,
confirmed the arrest, and urged the public to always
protect their PIN during any banking transaction.
The suspects and exhibits recovered have been
transferred to State Criminal Investigation
Department (SCID), Panti, for prosecution, according
to the police.
Source: Premium times
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