One of the country’s banking industries, Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited is currently battling one of employees and others of defrauding it of whooping sum of N723, 660, 867. 47 million.
The bank in a bid to get the money recovered has dragged it’s employee, Jeffrey Akhimien alongside Segun Samuel Ogunjimi and a limited liability Company, Greaterheights Technologies Limited, before Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) for Investigation and prosecution.
Consequently, PSFU had dragged the duo of Jeffrey Akhimien, segun Samuel Ogunjimi and Greaterheights Technologies Limited, before a Lagos Federal High Court, on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, fraud and illegal and unlawful of funds conversion.
Jeffrey Akhimien, who worked with the Aromire Ikeja Lagos’ Branch of the bank, was accused of conspiring with Segun Samuel Ogunjimi, his company, Greaterheights Technologies Limited and one Lucky Sargin, to swindled the bank of total sum of N723, 660, 867. 47 million.
The defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and December, 2020
The first defendant, Jeffrey Akhimien, was alleged to have singlehandedly converted to his own use and benefit, the sum of N175 million. While he and others were alleged to have jointly defrauded the bank of the sum of N548, 660, 867.47 million.
The Bank’s staff, Jeffrey Akhimien was alleged to had falsely presented to the bank, that all members of staff of Greaterheights Technologies Limited, needed loans from the Bank and that the said Staff authorized him to approach the Bank and negotiate for the loans on their behalf and that their salaries and Grade Levels qualified them for the loans and that their loans advanced was meant to assist them solve their individual financial needs and that they had the means, ability and capacity to pay back the loans as at when due.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obiaze, are contrary to Section 8(a), 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, but punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
He also told the court that the offences contravened Sections 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as mended in 2012.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The development, which make the prosecutor to ask for trial date as well urged court to remand all the defendants till the determination of the charge.
But their counsel, told the court of his clients’ bail application, which was argued.
Ruling on the counsel submissions on the bail applications, Justice Peter Lifu, acceded to the defendants’ request, and granted each of them bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Lifu also ordered that one of the sureties must blood relation to the defendants, while the other must be a Civil Servant in Federal of Lagos State employment and not below Grade Level 12.
The judge while adjourning the matter till May 26, for trial, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
