N2.7bn fraud: Court sentences former banker to 39 years imprisonment

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday October 27 2026 has sentenced a former banker, Christopher Jackson Edeh, to a total of 39 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.7 billion fraud prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Edeh, who was arraigned on February 28, 2024, faced nine counts bordering on fraudulent  accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system.

The charges alleged that he altered the bank account details of several customers and government-related entities, including the Kano State Government Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government Blue Line, the State Contributory Pension Account and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, with intent to defraud.
 
 

During the trial, prosecuting counsel, Z.B. Atiku called three witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence to establish the case against the defendant. The defence, on its part, called one witness.

In her judgment, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently convicted Edeh on the nine counts.

The court sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts one to seven, bordering on fraudulent false accounting, and two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts eight and nine, relating to unauthorised access to a computer system with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes.

The court ordered that all the sentences run concurrently.