The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of two former bankers, Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo, for the criminal diversion of N10.3 million belonging to pensioners in Enugu State.
The duo were convicted by Justice A. O. Onovo of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, following a protracted trial that began in 2016.
The convicts were arraigned on 18 January 2016 on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and stealing while they were staff of Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank Plc.
According to the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the defendants conspired to unlawfully reactivate three dormant customer accounts belonging to pensioners without their consent and diverted the funds for personal use.
One of the charges stated that on 21 November 2012, at Nsukka, the defendants stole N4.44 million from the account of Udekwu F. A. O., while another count revealed that on 12 October 2012, they diverted N2,113,610.40 from the account of one Onuora George.
The offences contravened Section 459(a) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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They pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting a full trial during which the EFCC, through its counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani, called five witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits.
Delivering judgement, Justice Onovo dismissed counts six and nine.
The second defendant, Hillary Odo, was convicted on counts four and seven and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N100,000 fine per count.
The first defendant, Sani Endurance Aferokhe, was convicted on counts one, two, three, five, eight, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each count, except count fifteen for which he received three years’ imprisonment, with an option of N100,000 fine on each count.
The EFCC said the conviction showed its commitment to protecting pensioners and vulnerable citizens from financial exploitation and ensuring accountability within the banking sector.
The convicts were former staff of Access Bank Plc.
