EFCC Arraigns Three Men for Allegedly Stealing N3.5bn from Access Bank

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought three men before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on charges of allegedly stealing N3.5 billion from Access Bank. The accused, identified as Michael Igbomins, David Onyeike, and Moses Iruolaje, face two counts of stealing and retention of proceeds of crime.

The defendants entered a plea of not guilty to the charges presented against them.

Abdulhamid Tukur, representing the EFCC, requested the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. Conversely, the defense counsel highlighted the absence of any pending applications and urged for the necessary legal actions to be completed before the next adjourned date.

The prosecution alleges that the crimes took place in Lagos in 2023, with the defendants accused of dishonestly appropriating N3.5 billion, a sum belonging to Access Bank. Furthermore, the EFCC claims the defendants knowingly retained the illicitly obtained funds.

These alleged actions are said to contravene Section 17 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and Section 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Presiding Judge Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe ordered the remand of the defendants in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, pending the hearing and determination of their bail application. The trial is scheduled to commence on November 28.