The trial date for a Fidelity Bank employee accused of altering customers’ accounts to embezzle N2.7 billion has been set for May 30, 2024, by Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
The accused, Christopher Jackson Edeh, faces nine charges, including fraudulent false accounting and unauthorized computer access, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 28, 2024.
One of the charges alleges that Edeh altered the account details of Dangote Cement Plc while employed at Fidelity Bank, intending to defraud.
Another charge accuses him of facilitating the theft of N2,737,784,800.00 from Fidelity Bank.
Furthermore, Edeh is accused of altering the bank account details of various entities, including the Kano State Government, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government, State Contributory Pension Account, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ujukwu University.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The EFCC expressed readiness to prove its case, while the defense sought bail for the defendant, citing the bailable nature of the offense. Justice Abike-Fadipe granted bail in the sum of N5 million, requiring two sureties, one of whom must be a blood relative, to depose to an affidavit of means, show evidence of gainful employment, residency within the court’s jurisdiction, and tax payment for the last three years to Lagos State.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 30 and June 6, 2024.
