Chinonso Akujobi, a former staff member of Access Bank Plc, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre after she was arraigned before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over allegations of stealing ₦294.5 million from the bank.
Akujobi was brought before Justice I.O. Ijelu on Thursday, 9 July 2026, following a five-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accused her of committing the alleged offences between January and December 2025 while she was employed by Access Bank.
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The EFCC alleged that the former bank employee carried out unauthorised payments from the bank’s general ledger into accounts linked to her, including accounts bearing the names Chinonso A., Uchechi A. and Florence A.
According to one of the charges, the alleged action constituted stealing under Section 280, punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Akujobi pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to her before the court.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel S.M. Yabo requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant at a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
Justice Ijelu granted the request and ordered that Akujobi be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The court adjourned the matter until 8 October 2026 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.
The case forms part of a series of financial crime prosecutions involving alleged insider abuse and unauthorised transactions within Nigeria’s banking sector.
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The EFCC has continued to pursue cases involving suspected fraud and misappropriation of funds, particularly where employees are accused of abusing access to financial systems.
Akujobi remains presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
