Alleged N2.7bn Fraud: EFCC Charges Ex-Fidelity Bank Staff Member, Christopher Jackson Edeh
THE trial of a former Fidelity Bank staff member, Christopher Jackson Edeh, allegedly involved in a N2.7 billion fraud case, will commence on May 30, 2024, according to Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Abike-Fadipe fixed the May 30 date for the commencement of trial after granting bail to Edeh in the sum of N5 million and directing him to provide two sureties in like sum, with one being a blood relation to the defendant
Edeh is facing a nine-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 28, 2024, bordering on fraudulent false accounting contrary to Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, and unauthorized access to a computer contrary to Section 387 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
One of the charges read thus; “That you Christopher Jackson Edeh, sometime in September 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst in the employment of Fidelity Bank Plc, with intent to defraud, altered the customer account details of Dangote Cement Plc in possession of Fidelity Bank.”
The anti-graft agency further averred in another charge that; “Christopher Jackson Edeh, sometime in September 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to facilitate the stealing of the total sum of N2,737,784,800.00 (Two billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-seven million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) kept in the custody of Fidelity Bank Plc, secured the unauthorised access to Entrust portal of Fidelity Bank Plc.”
Also part of the EFCC’s statement read; “He was also alleged to have with intent to defraud altered the bank account details of the Kano State Government – Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government-Blue Line, State Contributory Pension Account, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ujukwu University”.
Following Edeh’s “not guilty” plea to the charges when they were read to him, counsel to the EFCC, Z. B. Atiku, informed the Court of the prosecution’s readiness to prove its case against the defendant. After the defence Counsel presented a bail application for Edeh, the Court adjourned the case to Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to hear the bail application.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel G.A. Daniel, in moving the bail application, described the offence as bailable. While granting bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million, Justice Abike-Fadipe directed that he provide two sureties in like sum, with one being a blood relation to the defendant.
Justice Abike-Fadipe further directed that; “The sureties shall depose to an affidavit of means, must be gainfully employed and resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must show evidence of tax payment for the last three years to the Lagos State”.
Consequently, the Court adjourned the case till May 30 and June 6, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
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