Police arrest bank employee for ‘robbery’ in Ogun

The Ogun state police command has arrested Olagoke Dare, identified as a microfinance bank employee, for alleged robbery.

In a statement on Tuesday, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state police spokesman, said the money that would have been stolen belonged to the suspect’s employer.

Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested after the police received a distress call that armed robbers attacked the bank employee and a female colleague, as they emerged from a commercial bank in Abeokuta.

“Upon the distress call, the DPO Ibara division, SP Segun Ajao, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the scene where one Idowu Tunde was arrested with the assistance of members of the public,” the statement reads.

“The arrested suspect, who was armed with a mock gun, informed the police during interrogation, that it was Olagoke Dare who informed him that his employer will be sending him and one other person to withdraw the sum of 3 million naira, and that they should come and rob them of the money.”

The spokesman added that the accomplice said it was the microfinance bank employee who gave him the toy pistol for the robbery.

Oyeyemi also said the accomplice confessed that while the bank’s employee and his colleague were inside the commercial bank, he hid in their car which was deliberately left unlocked by Dare in accordance with their plan.

“While they got into the car, Idowu Tunde explained that he came out suddenly from the back seat and pointed the gun to the lady who was in possession of the money,” the statement reads.

“But the lady noticed that the gun did not look original, consequent upon which she dragged the gun with him and raised alarm. It was the alarm that attracted people who pursued them and called the police.”

The spokesman said Abiodun Alamutu, the acting police commissioner, ordered the transfer of the two suspects to the criminal investigation and intelligence department in the state for further interrogation.

He also advised companies to always carry out background checks on job applicants before employing them.