Staff, others face trial for allegedly defrauding Standard Chartered Bank N723.6m
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A banker with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, Jeffery Akhimien and others were re-arraigned before Justice (Dr) Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly defrauding the bank to the tune of N723, 660, 867. 47 million.
Others re-arraigned alongside with Jeffery by the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi Lagos on Thursday were Segun Samuel Ogunjimi and a limited liability Company, Greaterheights Technologies on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, fraud, illegal and unlawful conversion of funds.
The defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and December, 2020.
Jeffery and his accomplice were previously arraigned on July 4, 2022, before Justice Peter Lifu, now sitting at the Abuja jurisdiction of the court.
When the matter was called for re-arraignment of the defendants, the prosecutor, Mr. Justine Enang prayed the court to allow the reading of the charge to the defendants, for them to take their pleas afresh, since the matter was coming up for the first time before a new judge.
The defendants’ counsel Malachi Ugwumadu and Daniel Olukoya, did not oppose the re-arraignment as applied by the prosecutor.
However, the charge was not read to the defendants, as the judge asked them if they knew and understood the charges earlier read to them and asked them of their plea. They maintained their plea of not guilty to the charge.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, their counsel prayed the court to allow them to continue with the bail conditions earlier granted them by the former trial judge.
The application was not opposed by the prosecutor.
Consequently, Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter to October 15, 2024, for commencement of trial.
In the charge, the police alleged that Jeffrey Akhimien, who worked with the Aromire Ikeja branch of the bank Lagos, conspired with Segun Samuel Ogunjimi, his company, Greaterheights Technologies Limited and one Lucky Sargin, to swindle the Standard Chartered Bank total sum of N723, 660, 867. 47 million.
Jeffrey 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 the sum of N548, 660, 867.47 million.
The banker Jeffrey, was also alleged to have falsely presented to the bank, that all members of staff of Greaterheights Technologies Limited, needed loans from the Bank; 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; that the 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.
According to the charge by the police, the offences are contrary to Section 8(a), 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. And Section15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as mended in 2012.
