Fraudster, who operates Polaris Bank Account without BVN arraigned

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an alleged fraudster, Raji Rilwan Akinola, whose accounts with Zenith Bank Plc and Polaris Bank are not linked with Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Akinola was arraigned before a Special Offences court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

He was said to have also used his account domiciled in Guaranty Trust bank to carry out his fraudulent venture.

This revelation was unveiled in the court presided by Justice Mojisola Dada, by an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Adze Adams at the resume of the trial.

The defendant who is standing trial on two count charge bordering on stealing pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The investigator told the court that he found it strange that Rilwan could be operating those accounts with Zenith and Polaris Banks without complying with the Central Bank of Nigeria rule of linking all customers account with BVN numbers.

In his evidence-in-chief led by prosecution counsel, Mrs. Fadekemi Giwa, the investigator said the commission beamed search light on the activities of Rilwan upon a petition by American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

He said investigation confirmed that Rilwan defrauded one Babatunde Sunday the sum of N13, 269, 804million, using the trio of Guarantee, Zenith and Polaris Banks in carrying out the alleged fraud.

Specifically, the investigator affirmed that when the sum of N5 million was domiciled between the defendant account with Zenith and Polaris Bank, those accounts were not linked with BVN.

The defence counsel however prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him cross examine the witness.

The offence according to the prosecution contravened, Section 411 and 326(1) Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, and punishable under a section 287 of the same law.