LAGOS — A 45-year-old bullion van driver with a second generation bank, has been arrested by the special anti-robbery squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly stealing an equivalent of N18.1 million in foreign currencies from his bank.

The suspect, identified as  Segun Fatokun, was said to be a staff at the Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island branch of the bank, where he worked as head of cash movement department.

Vanguard gathered that Fatokun allegedly stole $100,000 and 10,000 Euros, while himself  and five of his colleagues were off loading monies from other branches, on March 8, 2013.

Vanguard further learnt that Fatokun, who was inside the bullion van, while they off loaded  the cash,  left the N18.1milion equivalent behind in the van and later hid it in a friend’s house at Oworoshoki area of state.

Sources told Vanguard that, one of the bank cashiers who took part in the off loading discovered that the money was missing, on March 11, 2013 and he alerted the authorities who brought in the police.

Fatokun and five of his colleagues were arrested and detained at Bar-beach police station, after which they were transferred to SARS for interrogation.

A source who craved anonymity said, operatives at SARS while interrogating the suspects, found inconsistencies in Fatokun’s statement and isolated him.

According to the source; “The suspect confessed to have stolen the money and hide it in his friend, identified as  Jide’s house in Oworosoki.

Then, the SARS operatives proceeded to Jide’s  house and  recovered 100,000 US dollars and 10,000 Euros equivalent to 18.1 Million Naira hidden under the bed while Jide escaped” the source added.

When Vanguard spoke with Fatokun, he explained that he was led by the devil to steal the money.

According to him; “I have served that bank for 13 years as one of it’s senior drivers and I don’t know what came over me before I stole that money. I have four children and my wife is late. Please I am not a thief I don’t know what came over me. “I am a contract staff in the bank and this is not the first time bank has forgotten money in my bullion van and I returned the money to the bank, but I wasn’t given any thing as appreciation.

“Some of my colleagues laughed at me for returning the money and I told them that I am not a thief. I didn’t know what came over me this time and I regretted my action.”