The police last  Fri

day
arraigned two men, Obianugwe Chijoke, 26, and Ogunaike Oluwagbenga, 32, before
an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged fraud.

The accused were said to have defrauded three customers of
Diamond Bank of about N1.3 million.

The accused, whose addresses were not given, are facing
charges of stealing, fraud, forgery and conspiracy.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Emby Ngombo, told the court that both
accused were arrested separately at the Eti-Osa branch of the bank on July 7
and  August 13.

According to Ngombo, the accused conspired to withdraw more
than N1.3 million from the customers’ accounts with the bank.

“The accused illegally withdrew N980, 000 from the account
of one Udi Ofuko and N258,000 from the account belonging to C.A Edeh
Construction and Industry Ltd.

“They also conspired to withdraw N70, 000 from the account
belonging to another company, Kay-P-One Shop Synergy Ltd’’ he said.

He said that the offence was contrary to and punishable
under Sections 409, 368 (1), 285 (9) (b) and 364 of the Criminal Code, Laws of
Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Their counsel, Mrs Margret Lawani, pleaded with the court to
grant them bail in “most liberal terms.”

The Magistrate, Bayo Sonuga, granted them bail in the sum of
N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

He said the sureties must be resident in Lagos and must
produce evidence of three years’ tax clearance.

Sonuga adjourned the case to September17