Bank driver arrested with 19 ATM cards,N652,000

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Dare
Oladujoye, a driver with Zenith Bank, for allegedly
being in possession of 19 Guaranty Trust Bank ATM
cards and the sum of N652, 000.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was using the
cards to withdraw money from an ATM at Ogba
branch of GTB when a security guard raised the
alarm.
The Commissioner of Police for the state police
command, Mr. Umar Manko, said as of the time of his
arrest, the suspect had withdrawn N652, 000 from
the ATM.
Manko said, "On July 26, 2012, around 8:30pm, there
was a distress call that there was commotion at GTB,
Ogba branch. On getting there, the suspect was seen
with 19 ATM cards.
"He is an employee of Zenith Bank and we wondered
what he was doing with the 19 cards. He was
arrested and as of the time of his arrest, he had
cashed N652, 000. The matter is under
investigation."
The suspect however denied stealing the ATM cards.
He said whenever he lent people money, he would
collect their ATM cards as collateral and return them
after payment.
He said, "I usually loan people money and I've been
doing it for over a year. Whenever I loan people
money, I will collect their ATM cards and their
Personal Identification Numbers. When they repay
me, I return their cards to them.
"However, if they don't pay me back in cash, I go to
withdraw money from their accounts through the
ATM."
When quizzed on where he got the money which he
lent people, he said he was into various kinds of
businesses.
He also said he had friends in the banking sector who
helped him with funds.
He said, "I am a very hard working person. I joined
Zenith Bank as a driver over three years ago and in
less than a year, I bought a tricycle which I leased to
another driver that gives me returns on a regular
basis.
"The following year, I bought two tricycles bringing
the total number to three. I make N150,000 monthly
from the tricycles and N60,000 from my salary. I also
get credit facilities through my connections in the
banking sector.
"On the day I was arrested, I went to withdraw
money on Thursday night with some of the cards
when a security guard raised the alarm. I did not
steal those cards. I know the owners of the cards and
I have their numbers on my phone."
Meanwhile, the command has warned members of
the public to be very careful when buying vehicles so
as not to buy stolen ones.
The warning became imperative following the arrest
of two mechanics who allegedly received six stolen
vehicles and even sold some to members of the
public.
Manko said buyers could sense stolen vehicles by
their cheap prices.
It was learnt that on July 7, 2012, Sunday Okoduwa
came with a report that his car was stolen on Victoria
Island.
Policemen later traced the car to a workshop in
Agidingbi and arrested a man identified simply as
Abdusalam, who in turn claimed that he bought it
from one Idowu Adegboyega.
PUNCH Metro learnt that when Adegboyega was
arrested and could not give a satisfactory
explanation, his house was searched and some
documents were found which led to the recovery of
six other vehicles.
A police source said, "When we searched the
suspect's house, some documents were recovered
which led to the recovery of six other vehicles.
"All the vehicles were registered in the name of one
Oti Olusekola Jacob, who is believed to belong to the
gang of armed robbers in Lagos."
In a related development, the police have arrested 12
armed robbery suspects.
Police authorities said the suspects belonged to a
syndicate that specialised in snatching vehicles from
the owners at gunpoint.
The police alleged that the suspects operated in
Ikorodu where they robbed and also sold vehicles.
According to the police, Ahmed Abdullahi, Azeez
Abiodun, Olusoga Taiwo, Wasiu Azeez and Dele
Balogun are among the suspects arrested.
It was learnt that three of the suspects, Adebiyi
Mafimisesin, Lekan Aibinuomo and Okalawon
Akinpelu; were receivers of stolen vehicles, which
were either Toyota or Honda products.
A police source said, "The case emanated from
Ikorodu Police Station and was reported on June 20,
2012 by a complainant who was attacked and robbed
of his Toyota Sienna Space bus.
"We swung into action and we discovered where they
keep stolen vehicles and sell to buyers. We recovered
six vehicles; Toyota Sienna, Toyota Corolla, Honda
Accord, Toyota Camry and two others.
"We also recovered single-barrelled locally-made
shotguns and 24 live cartridges and one expended
cartridge."