What started as a bank-customer relationship is now a subject of litigation as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has slammed a 21-count charge against two female staff of Access Bank Plc. EFCC has dragged the two bankers before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for allegedly stealing about N197.2 million from the account of a customer, De Chimex Aluminium and Steel Company Limited, an Abuja based company.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the Defendants conspired and transfered the sum of N197.2 million from the account of De Chimex Aluminium and Steel Company Ltd which was domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
However, the planned arraignment of the defendants before Justice A. O. Ebong, of the Zuba Division of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court could not take place on Monday February,2021.
The arraignment of the two Access Bank staff was put on hold at the instance of the counsel to EFCC, Halidu Mohammed, who asked the court for an adjournment in order toenable the commission review the charges against the two bankers standing trial.
The application for adjournment by the EFCC counsel was not opposed to by the defence counsel.
In his short ruling, Justice Ebong adjourned the matter to March 22, for their arraignment.
This is the second time the arraignment of the two bankers would be put on hold as the first attempt at arraigning them on January, 22, 2021 suffered a setback.
According to the charge which bordered on forgery and theft, the fefendants, had between May and June 2018, allegedly transferred the funds to the account of a firm, Mikuch Global Ltd, which was operated by the 2nd defendant.
They were alleged to have forged a document titled: “Access Bank Fund Transfer/Standing Order From” with different serial numbers, with a purported signature of one Paschal Nwabueze Innocent, managing director of De Chimex Aluminium and Steel Company Ltd.
EFCC said the defendants had by their action, committed offences that are punishable under sections 85, 287, and 364 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.