Four employees of Richway Microfinance Bank Limited have been arraigned before the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Lagos over an alleged fraud of ₦182,302,151.75 against a bank customer.
The defendants, Imuraina Rebecca Ikeoluwa, Olabanji Adekunle Peter, Nwokoma Silverline Ngozi, and Ayeni Samson Olubunmi, were arraigned by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon-Ikoyi, before Justice Alexander Owoeye.
They face a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, unlawful transfer of funds, and cybercrime-related impersonation.
According to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Ajani Animashaun, the offences were allegedly committed between January and December 2025 at Richway Microfinance Bank Limited’s office located on Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired with other suspects still at large to defraud account holders linked to Sanusi Hostel 1 and Sanusi Hostel 2, with account numbers 11000233002 and 12000233003.
Investigators claim that a total of ₦182,302,151.75 was transferred from the accounts into multiple accounts belonging to different individuals.
Prosecutors further alleged that the defendants compromised the bank’s internal system and created a fake email address — sunnatbello@ghotmail.com — designed to closely resemble the legitimate email sunatbello@hotmail.com, which was allegedly used to facilitate the fraud.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecutor asked the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending trial.
However, Justice Owoeye granted each defendant bail of ₦10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court also ruled that the sureties must: Reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide three years’ tax clearance evidence.
The defendants were additionally ordered to submit their National Identification Numbers (NIN), Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), and two passport photographs, and were barred from travelling outside Lagos State without court permission.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the case until June 24, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the FCID facility in Alagbon-Ikoyi pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
