Man, teenager docked after attempt to withdraw money from unknown account
….I refused initially; he charmed me
—Teenager
An unemployed man, Elijah Pius, who allegedly lured a teenager to aid him in committing fraud—attempting to withdraw money from an unknown account— was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos. Pius, 20, during his arraignment before Magistrate F. F. George, said he committed the offence in desperation for money.
He said: “Since I don’t have anyone to cater for me in Lagos and I have no means of livelihood, I was tempted when I saw a diary lying around with an account number in it. “I was pushed to try my luck by withdrawing money from the account.
But when the accountant realised that it was a female’s account, she sent me away from the bank.” Pius said out of desperation he was able to convince the teenager to assist him to withdraw the money, after telling her the account belongs to his sister.
However, the teenager, who was charged alongside Pius, told the court that she was charmed by Pius to carry out the act after she had initially refused.
The defendants, whose residential addresses were not given, are facing trial on a count charge bordering on an attempt to steal preferred against them by the Police.
The prosecutor, Inspector Ingobo Emby, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence on November 20 on Broad Street branch of the first generation bank in Lagos Island. Emby said the defendants conspired to commit a felony to wit attempt to steal from an unknown account number, which was found in a lost diary.
According to him, the offence committed is punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Magistrate George granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum; she added that the sureties must be gainfully employed.
The case was adjourned to December 7 for a mention.
– Vanguard
