EFCC ARRAIGNS EX-BANKER OVER ALLEGED N294.5M THEFT IN LAGOS

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Agency Report

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former employee of Access Bank Plc, Chinonso Akujobi, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over the alleged theft of N294,595,992.

Akujobi was arraigned on Thursday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC before Justice I.O. Ijelu on a five-count charge bordering on stealing.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly diverted and converted bank funds to personal use while in the employment of the financial institution.

One of the charges alleged that Akujobi, between January and December 2025, fraudulently transferred N109,325,566.86 from the bank’s general ledger into personal Access Bank accounts bearing the names Chinonso A., Uchechi A. and Florence A. without authorisation.

The charge stated that the alleged act contravenes Section 280 and is punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all five counts when they were read in court.

Following the plea, prosecution counsel, S.M. Yabo, requested the court to fix a date for trial and urged that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application and the commencement of trial.

The court also ordered that Akujobi be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.