2 men arraigned for stealing N330, 000 via ATM

Lagos – Two unemployed men — Seun Peter and Kayode Odubanjo — were on Wednesday charged with using a stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to steal N330, 000 at a Lagos court.

Peter, 23, and Odubanjo, 18, who both reside at No. 3, Shonuga, St., Sogunle, Oshodi, are being tried for conspiracy and stealing at an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the duo committed the offences on Dec. 8 at their residence.

He said that the accused conspired to steal an ATM card belonging to one Mr Mustapha Ayaba and later used it to withdraw his money.

“The accused stole the ATM card and withdrew the complainant’s money leaving only N2, 000 in his account,’’ Olatunde said.

He alleged that Peter, who was accommodated by the complainant, stole his ATM card and gave it to Odubanjo, a neighbor, to withdraw the money.

“Peter took the card after he had seen the pin number written in a book kept in the room.’’

“When the complainant went to the bank to withdraw money, he discovered that his balance was only N2, 000.

“Following investigations, the photograph of Peter was showed as the one who used the ATM card to withdraw the money.’’

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 285 and 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 410 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences and were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr O. L. Owolabi, adjourned the case till Jan. 13, 2015 for mention.