The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men before the Special Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State for allegedly stealing N3.5 billion from Access Bank.

The defendants – Michael Igbomins, David Onyeike, and Moses Iruolaje – were arraigned on two counts of stealing and retention of proceeds of crime.

The defendants, whose residential addresses were not provided, however, pleaded not guilty.

EFCC counsel Abdulhamid Tukur, thereafter, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre.

The defence counsel informed the court that there was no pending application before the court and prayed that the needful be done before the next adjourned date.

Again, Access Bank ranked Nigeria’s most valuable brand

The prosecutor told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence in 2023 in Lagos.

The prosecutor said the defendants, with dishonest intent, allegedly stole and converted to their own use the sum of N3.5 billion, property of Access Bank.

The EFCC also alleged that the defendants retained the money, the proceeds they knew to have been from unlawful act.

According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences violate Section 17 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Presiding judge Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe remanded the defendants in Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

Justice Abike-Fadipe, thereafter, adjourned the case until November 28 for the commencement of trial.

The Star