Police SFU to Arraign former Keystone Bank Official for Alleged N35m Theft

The Nigerian Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU Legal Section) in Lagos, has filed a 4-count charge before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos against Mrs Ebele Bernardine Okpala, a former employee of Keystone Bank Limited (KBL).

Mrs Ebele Bernardine Okpala was arrested by the Unit for alleged offences of fraudulent conversion and stealing of Thirty-Five Million Naira (N35,000,000.00). This amount was the credit facility she obtained in July 2023 from a financial services firm, as proof of funds to facilitate the approval of a Canadian Visa for her daughter. The money was deposited in the suspect’s account domiciled in Keystone Bank Limited, and was secured by a Post-No-Debit (PND) placed by KBL at the behest of the financial company to preserve the funds.

However, the suspect, in collusion with one of her colleagues at the Bank who was a Service Manager, circumvented procedures and processes put in place by KBL and lifted the PND without authorisation, to enable Ebele Okpala to transfer the money out to settle personal needs.

Following the act, on the 6th of September, 2023, Ebele Okpala absconded from her duties at the Bank, and has not returned since.

Detectives tracked her to Delta State, where she was arrested on 4th July, 2024.