A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a former banker, Christopher Jackson Edeh, to a total of 39 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.7 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement issued on Tuesday by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, said Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe convicted Edeh after finding him guilty of nine counts bordering on fraudulent false accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system.
The commission said Edeh was arraigned on February 28, 2024, over allegations that he altered the bank account details of several customers and government-related entities with intent to defraud.
The affected entities included the Kano State Government Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government Blue Line, the State Contributory Pension Account and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
According to the EFCC, “In her judgment, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently convicted Edeh on the nine counts.”
The anti-graft agency said prosecuting counsel, Z.B. Atiku, called three witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence during the trial, while the defence called one witness.
The court sentenced Edeh to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts one to seven, which bordered on fraudulent false accounting.
He was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts eight and nine, relating to unauthorised access to a computer system with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes.
The EFCC added that “The court ordered that all the sentences run concurrently.”
