The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former employee of Access Bank Plc, Chinonso Akujobi, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over the alleged theft of N294.6 million through a series of unauthorized bank transfers.
Akujobi was brought before Justice I.O. Ijelu on Thursday by the EFCC's Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on a five-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and fraudulent diversion of bank funds while serving as a staff member of the financial institution.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly diverted a total of N294,595,992 belonging to Access Bank between January and December 2025 by initiating unauthorized transfers from the bank's general ledger into accounts allegedly linked to him and his associates.
The EFCC alleged that one of the transactions involved the unlawful transfer of N109,325,566.86 into Access Bank account number 0036668871, as well as other accounts bearing the names "Chinonso A.," "Uchechi A.," and "Florence A."
Prosecutors told the court that the alleged diversion of funds was carried out while Akujobi was still employed by Access Bank, describing the transfers as unauthorized and executed with dishonest intent.
One of the charges reads in part:
"That you, Chinonso Akujobi, sometime between January and December 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with dishonest intent, and while under the employment of Access Bank Plc, stole and converted for your own use, by unauthorized payments from the general ledger of the bank... the sum of N109,325,566.86..."
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 280 and are punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
When the charges were read, Akujobi pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel S.M. Yabo urged the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in custody pending the determination of the case.
Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.
The court also ordered that Akujobi be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The case adds to a growing number of financial crime prosecutions involving banking sector employees, as the EFCC continues its crackdown on alleged insider fraud and the unlawful diversion of customers' and corporate funds.