The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned three Lagos bankers and four accomplices before the Federal High Court in Lagos, over their alleged involvement in an N8.5bn fraud scheme.
The bankers — Samuel Ihechukwu Asiegbu, Fabian Onyeimachi, and Kingsley Ejim Kelechi — were arraigned alongside Hannah Okunlola Adesokan, Hamza Zakariya, Achionu Ubaku, and Sunday Osademe on eight counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.
According to a statement issued Monday by the EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the accused persons were said to have manipulated a bank’s internal systems and altered critical banking data in January 2025, causing a financial loss totalling N8,568,090,500.
The EFCC alleged that the accused conspired with others still at large to carry out the fraudulent transactions, which were designed to confer economic benefits on themselves.
According to the EFCC, the defendants committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
When the charges were read to them, however, all the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, EFCC counsel, Aso Peters, requested the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, the defence counsel, representing Hannah Okunlola, urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody due to concerns over her health condition.
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the case to June 6, 2025, for trial.
According to the EFCC statement, five of the defendants were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, while Kingsley Ejim Kelechi was allowed to continue on his existing bail.
Hannah Okunlola was ordered to remain in EFCC custody pending further hearing.
