Defendant on Friday the 18th of February,2022 with the expectation, that they
would then resume duty on Monday, the 21't of February ,2022.
From PW1's evidence, it is quite obvious that Vitalis Osunbor did not report
for duty on the 21't of February,2022 at 7.30am, the expected resumption time,
and so, he had to make a report to the Head of the Branch of the Bank who then
went to the Bank's vault, brought the spare keys to the ATM vault to make them
gain access to the ATM machines.
From the evidence, and according to PW1, upon ascertainment of the
quantity or amount of cash available, it was noted that over the sum of Eleven
Million Naira was missing. lt is noteworthy to point out the fact that there was no
document produced in this Court to show how much cash was loaded into the
said ATM machine on particular dates, how much was dispensed, and how much
was remaining. PW1 also informed this Court that after the Bank's internal
investigation, the sum of Eleven lVillion, Four Hundred Thousand Naira was fund
missing. The Court takes cognizance of the fact again that the Report of such
internal investigation was not placed before this Court. The Court was not told
who or which powerless of staff or external Auditors who carried out the Report.
The date or dates on which the said internal investigations were carried out. This
Court was not informed whether the Defendant was a part of such internal
investigation or audit by the Bank staff.
PW1 further stated that one Joy handed over to the Defendant, while he,
PW1, handed over his duties to Vitalis Osunbor. This Court also notes that Joy,
the Manager of the Bank, the Security staff, Frank and Faru did not testify before
this Court. They are vital witnesses, and, their statements were neither taken by
the police nor produced before this Court. This Court therefore is of the view that
there is withholding of evidence by the prosecution, and, also, that if such
evidence be produced, it would be unfavourable to the prosecution. This Court
refers to section 167 (d) of the Evidence Act, 2011 as amended.
PW2 the IPO lamented about this fact while testifying before this Court
about the unco-operative attitude of the Bank's officials towards a proper
investigation of this case. ln this modern age of technology and from the
evidence in Court the complainant Bank has CCTV. No CCTV footage was
tendered before this Court. The CCTV footage would have shown and pointed
investably at the person who stole the said sum of money. The security officers
on duty on that particular weekend neither made statements nor testified in
Court. The said security officers saw who and who entered the branch of the said
Bank on that day, and, who and who left, and, with what. There was evidence
t2