23rd July, 2018
Following the startling discovery of a whopping N1.2bn fraud, allegedly committed by one Olayinka Sanni, a former staff of Access Bank, through illegal siphoning of customers’ money, the bank has now taken the bold step to hand over the former staff to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC,) for prosecution.
An employee of Access Bank, one Arthur Ezindu, narrated how Olayinka Sanni, then an Account General Manager, AGM, allegedly stole a sizeable amount of money to the tune of N1.2 billion from several accounts belonging to customers of the bank.
Some of these customers’ accounts include: the Falana & Falana Chambers; Babington Junior Seminary; Viju Industries; Mechano Nigeria, PWU Nigeria; Elizade Nigeria; Murhi International Group, to mention a few.
Sanni was reportedly arraigned alongside one Oyebode Oteyebi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and altering of forged documents.
Ezindu, who gave his office address as Block 99C Damole, off Adeola Odeku, testified as a prosecution witness before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos.
While being led in evidence by the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, Ezindu alleged that Sanni withdrew the said huge sum of money from different customers’ accounts without their consent and thereafter allegedly issued them forged documents of confirmation which he purportedly claimed, emanated from the bank.
In the course of interrogation, Arthur Ezindu told the Special Offences Court that Olayinka, who was his boss at the time of the incident, was a Regional Executive, Lagos Mainland North at Intercontinental bank, now Access Bank.
According to him, “The bank received several complaints from several customers whose accounts were debited without their consent. However, during the preliminary investigation, we noticed that all the complaints were centered on our staff, Olayinka Sanni. We then invited him to the head office for questioning, but he claimed that everything was under control.
“He told us not to bother investigating the matter on the ground, that there was more behind what was happening. So since he was our senior officer, being the AGM at that time, we decided to petition his case to the EFCC for proper investigation.”
When asked how much was involved as at the time the bank petitioned the EFCC, Ezindu replied, the total sum was about N1.2 billion.
The prosecution, thereafter. tendered the petition dated September 2011 in evidence.
Meanwhile, the two defendants were also arraigned alongside a company, Sidaw Ventures Limited, which was allegedly used to transfer and cash out the stolen funds.
The employee further alleged that during the preliminary investigation, the bank discovered that the company, Sidaw had Adamu as its signatory, while Sanni indirectly allegedly managed the account. Some of the handwriting on the cheques allegedly belonged to Sanni.
The case is being prosecuted at the Ikeja High Court (Special Offences Unit.)
The case was adjourned to a later date for further hearing.