A former staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, Friday Yahaya has been remanded in Ikoyi prisons, Lagos, for allegedly converting the sum of N25,350,000 belonging to the bank’s depositors to his personal use. The former marketing staff of the Bank at Balogun Business Association branch, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State was arraigned before Justice Lawal Akapo of an Ikeja High Court on Wednesday on a 16-count charge bordering on stealing, impersonation and forgery.


Trouble started when nine customers of the bank raised alarm over the diversion of their funds, which was later traced to Yahaya’s personal account with the bank.

Ifeanyi Okoye was said to be Yahaya’s worst-hit victim who had N21,710,000 stolen from his account with the bank. One of the charges read that you, "Friday Yahaya (Peter Arikhan) sometime between the months of February and November 2013, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being a staff of Fidelity Bank Plc stole the sum of N21,710,000 (Twenty One Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira) from account number 6050729408 maintained by Ifeanyi Okoye, property of Fidelity Bank Plc."


However, Yahayah has pleaded not guilty to the offence; and prayed the court to grant him bail. Justice Akapo refused to grant his request and ordered that he be remanded in prison custody till March 11, 2015 when the matter will come up again for hearing.