The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Christopher Jackson Edeh, a former banker, who was sentenced to a total of 39 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.7 billion fraud.
It separately arresting 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
The former banker was sentenced on Tuesday, by Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, Justice of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, after the court found him guilty of nine counts on fraudulent false accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system.
The EFCC disclosed this in separate statements issued by Dele Oyewale, its Head of Media and Publicity on Tuesday.
According to the commission, Edeh was arraigned on February 28, 2024, over allegations that he manipulated the account details of several customers and government-related entities with the intent to defraud them.
The affected accounts included the Kano State Government Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government Blue Line, the State Contributory Pension Account and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The prosecution alleged that the former banker altered the account details of the entities as part of the fraudulent activities for which he was charged.
Prosecuting counsel, Z.B. Atiku, called three witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence to establish the case against Edeh. The defence called one witness.
In her judgment, Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently convicted the defendant on all nine counts.
The court sentenced Edeh to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts one to seven, which bordered on fraudulent false accounting.
He was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts eight and nine, relating to unauthorised access to a computer system with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes.
In a separate development, the EFCC said its operatives arrested 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, in the early hours of Monday.
The operation, which began at about 5 a.m., targeted suspects allegedly involved in obtaining money from unsuspecting victims through gift cards, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers.
According to the commission, the suspects allegedly impersonated various individuals to facilitate the fraudulent transactions.
The operation also led to the seizure of five exotic cars, although the EFCC did not disclose the identities of the suspects or provide details of the vehicles in its statement.
The commission said the arrests followed pre-arrest surveillance and reconnaissance of the suspects’ activities, adding that the operation was conducted professionally.
It also disclosed that a young woman who allegedly attempted to alert the suspects by making telephone calls during the operation was temporarily held, while her phone was confiscated.
The EFCC said the phone was subsequently returned to her after the operation was concluded.
Following preliminary investigations, 19 of the 21 arrested suspects were indicted, while the remaining two were released.
The commission said the 19 indicted suspects would be arraigned in court immediately, although it did not specify the charges they would face or the court before which they would be arraigned.
The EFCC urged members of the public to support its efforts and condemn fraudulent activities, which it said were damaging Nigeria’s reputation.
The commission maintained that the sting was professionally executed, insisting that there was no harassment, intimidation or unlawful arrest of anyone.
It also said it remained open to constructive engagement with Nigerians but warned against attempts to undermine its anti-corruption mandate through what it described as blackmail and alarmism.