A former senior bank official has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to masterminding a sophisticated robbery at his own branch.
Mr Akin, who served as the Head of Operations at a First Bank branch for six years, admitted to conspiring with a criminal gang to loot the facility, citing dissatisfaction with his salary as the primary motivation for his betrayal.
According to court records, Mr. Akin leveraged his position to provide the gang with critical security intelligence. He specifically alerted the robbers that the bank operated limited hours on Saturdays and was protected by only two guards during Sunday shifts. Furthermore, he provided the criminals with detailed layouts of the vault room and building access points.
Following Mr. Akin’s instructions, one suspect gained entry on a Saturday by hiding in the bathroom ceiling, remaining undetected until the bank closed. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the intruder unlocked a service door, allowing three accomplices to enter while the two security guards were asleep.
The gang successfully emptied the vault of vast sums of both naira and foreign currency before escaping through the same exit.
The robbery was discovered on Monday morning when staff arrived to find the vault empty. Authorities immediately launched a high-stakes investigation, closing the branch and placing all employees under travel restrictions while conducting a series of discreet property searches.
When police arrived at Mr. Akin’s residence, he initially resisted the search, reportedly attempting to call his manager for assistance. However, investigators successfully entered the home, discovering large stashes of naira and foreign currency linked to the robbery.
Faced with the evidence, Mr. Akin issued a full confession, which subsequently led to the identification and pursuit of his accomplices.
The court has sentenced Mr. Akin to 15 years in prison, marking a stern conclusion to what officials described as a significant breach of professional trust.
