An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court sitting in Isabo on Wednesday sentenced Idris Balogun to four years imprisonment for posing as a bank official to defraud customers.
The defendant, with no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a six-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, fraud, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Delivering her judgement, the Magistrate, Mrs A. Y Morakinyo, convicted the defendant following his guilty plea to the charges.
Morakinyo subsequently sentenced the convict to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and fraud, with no option of fine on each count.
She also sentenced the convict to three and two years imprisonment for false pretence and stealing, with no option of fine.
The magistrate said that the sentences should run concurrently.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Johnson Pendosoji told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb. 22, 2019, and March 7, 2024, at Polaris Bank, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
Pendosoji alleged that the defendant impersonated a staff member of Polaris Bank to defraud unsuspecting customers who came to the bank for transactions.
He added that Balogun obtained N270,000 from one Jamiu Razaq on Feb. 22, 2019, after pretending to assist him in paying money into his account.
The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant used the same method to obtain N600,000 from Sukurat Tijani on March 7, 2024.
According to him, the defendant will approach customers seeking assistance, collect their money under the guise of paying it to the cashier and then disappear with the cash.
Pendosoji described Balogun as a serial fraudster who allegedly specialised in impersonating bank staff to deceive customers.
“This act of fraudulent behavior should not be tolerated nor condoned by anyone,” he said.
Pendosoji said that the offences committed contravened Section 383, 390 (9) 484 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Vol.1 Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
(NAN)
