Operatives of the Lagos Police Command have arrested four suspects, including two bank employees, over alleged £138,924 (N277,848,000) bank fraud.

The suspects identified as Shuaib Oluwatobiloba Olaleye, 27; Oladunjoye Adegoke, 33; Austin Alfred, 38, and Jude Uzobuaku, 36 were arrested between March 12 and 13 over their alleged involvement in the illegal transfer of the amount from the domiciliary accounts of international airlines domiciled in the affected commercial bank.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly moved the money from the accounts of the real owners into the domiciliary account of a former employee of the bank before collecting the money.

Briefing reporters on breakthroughs recorded by the command in the last two weeks, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, said investigators were assigned to the case following a report from the commercial bank.

Jimoh, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benjamin Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said Olaleye was first arrested on March 12 in Ogun State and a Toyota Camry 2012/2013 model suspected to be a proceeds of the crime was recovered from him.

The following day, operatives arrested Adegoke in Victoria Island and a Toyota Camry (Pencil Light) was recovered from him.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Austin Alfred, 38, the Supervisor, Trade Services Department and Jude Uzobuaku, 36, the Processor, Trade Services Department, who facilitated the illegal transfer of funds to foreign accounts provided by the main suspect. Investigation is in progress,” said the police chief.

He said a total of 26 suspects were arrested for various offences, four firearms, 21 ammunition, six vehicles, a cutlass, phones, money and hard drugs recovered within the period under review.

Among the suspects arrested were Babatunde Ibrahim, 23, Michael Odova, 24, Seidu Abba, 20, and John Wisdom, all linked to Emmanuella Ogochukwu, 25, earlier apprehended for allegedly robbing her lover of N15million worth of bitcoins and three iPhones at the Okota area of the state.

The police said the suspects were arrested at the apartment of Emmanuella’s brother, Wisdom, in Okota, adding that a local pistol, four cartridges and an axe were recovered from them.

He said operatives of the command recovered Lar rifle with 12 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and SMG rifle without magazine inside a sack abandoned by suspected hoodlums along Aleke-Isiu, Imotu, Ikorodu, around 6pm on March 21.

The CP said operatives on March 14, observed the suspicious movement of some boys, Emmanuel Cletus, 32, and Adegor Joshua, 27, at Sangotedo, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, around 4am.

“Upon searching them, an automatic pistol and five rounds of live ammunition were found in their possession.

Suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the Command Headquarters for further investigation.

The command also arrested one Dolapo Ojo, 22, for allegedly receiving cars stolen from victims in the southeast.

His arrest followed an intelligence report that criminals were snatching vehicles from their owners in the southeast and bringing them to Lagos for sale.

According to the police, Ojo, who was arrested in Ikotun, received three Lexus 350 2017 models through a woman currently at large.

“One Lexus 350, silver in color, was recovered. Further investigation led to the recovery of another Lexus 330, black in color, at Ojodu Berger.

“The suspect is currently assisting a team of operatives to recover the remaining two Lexus.

“All suspects are to be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation. We would like to use this medium to assure all residents and visitors to Lagos State that under CP Olohundare Jimoh, the low level of crime experienced in

Lagos State will be sustained. We would once again like to appreciate the good

people of Lagos State for their unwavering support to the

Command; and the state government for the continual provision of logistics and

operational support,” he said.