The Honorable Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, seated in Ikeja, Lagos, has scheduled the initiation of proceedings against Mr. Christopher Jackson Edeh for May 30, 2024.
On February 28, 2024, Mr. Edeh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abike-Fadipe on nine counts of alleged fraudulent false accounting, as stipulated under Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, and unauthorized access to computer systems, contravening Section 387 of the same law.
One of the charges against Mr. Edeh states: “That you, Christopher Jackson Edeh, sometime in September 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst employed at Fidelity Bank Plc, with intent to defraud, altered the customer account details of Dangote Cement Plc in possession of Fidelity Bank.”
Another charge alleges: “Christopher Jackson Edeh, sometime in September 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to facilitate the embezzlement of the total sum of N2,737,784,800.00 (Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) held in custody by Fidelity Bank Plc, gained unauthorized access to the Entrust portal of Fidelity Bank Plc.”
Additionally, Mr. Edeh is accused of altering the bank account details of entities such as the Kano State Government – Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos State Government-Blue Line, State Contributory Pension Account, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
Mr. Edeh pleaded “not guilty” to the charges upon their presentation.
Subsequently, the prosecution, represented by counsel Z.B. Atiku, expressed readiness to substantiate its case against the defendant.
However, the defense raised the matter of Mr. Edeh’s bail application, prompting the court to adjourn proceedings until Tuesday, March 19, 2024, for the hearing of the said application.
During the hearing of the bail application, defense counsel G.A. Daniel presented the application on behalf of his client, urging the court to grant bail, given the bailable nature of the offense.
In her ruling on the application, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted bail to Mr. Edeh in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties required to post an equal amount, one of whom must be a blood relation of the defendant.
“The sureties must provide affidavits of means, demonstrate gainful employment, and residency within the jurisdiction of the court. They must also furnish evidence of tax payment for the preceding three years to the Lagos State authorities,” added the presiding judge.
Consequently, Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to May 30 and June 6, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
