‘N3.5bn Stolen From Access Bank's Vault’ - EFCC

Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna 

For allegedly stealing a sum to the tune of N3.5 billion from the vault owned by Access Bank Plc, three men, Michael Igbomins, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje have been arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before the court presided over by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe over their alleged involvement in the defrauding of the financial institution. 

They were specifically arraigned before the judge on two counts of stealing and retention of proceeds of crime. 

But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the counsel for the EFCC, Mr Abdulhamid Tukur prayed to the judge for a trial date, with an addition that the defendants should be remanded at the correctional centre.

However, the counsel for the defendants told the trial judge that there was no pending bail application before the court, just as he prayed to Justice Abike-Fadipe for a short date to enable him to do what was required.

In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe remanded the defendants to Ikoyi Custodial Centre, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications. 

The court adjourned until November 28 for the trial to begin.

While the arraignment lasted, Tukur hinted to the court that the trio allegedly committed the offence sometime in 2023 in Lagos. 

The EFCC lawyer further notified the court that the defendants, with dishonest intent, allegedly stole N3.5 billion belonging to Access Bank, and converted the same to their use.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the defendants retained the said sum; the proceeds they knew to have been from unlawful acts. 

According to the EFCC, the offence contravened Section 17 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. 

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