24 June, 2025
Azeez Folorunso
Three members of staff of Wema Bank Nigeria PLC, and four others today remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Prison over an alleged stealing of N8,568,090,500 billion from the bank.
Their remand followed their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
The defendants were arraigned on a four-count amended offence charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, unauthorised access of computer system and impersonation.
The suspects are: Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim.
When the matter was called, M.K Bashir announced appearance for EFCC.
Appearing for the defendants are: C.T Ajah appeared for first defendant, Dr. Benson Enikuomehin for second defendant, Mohammed Halilu for 3rd and 6th defendant, Mercy Akhobue-Izunovi held brief for N. Anoka for 4th defendant, for 5th defendant Victoria Amiohu and Sebastian Okeke for the seventh defendant.
At the arraignment, the EFCC informed the court of an amended charge dated 17th June 2025 and filed on 19th June, 2025 said same in respect of the defendants.
The court registrar read the charge to them and they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired to commit felony wit; stealing contrary to Section 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The charge reads: EFCC alleged that “Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim, Alhaji Sulaiman at large and other persons at large, sometimes in January 2025, conspired among themselves to steal money from Wema Bank Nigeria PLC.
“Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim, Alhaji Sulaiman at large and other persons at large, sometimes in January 2025, stole and converted to your own use and aggregate sum of N8,568,090,500 billion from Wema Bank PLC
“Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim, Alhaji Sulaiman at large and other persons at large, sometimes in January 2025, conspired among yourselves without authority, unauthorised of access of computer system of Wema Bank in order to facilitate the stealing of the money.
“Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim, Alhaji Sulaiman at large and other persons at large, sometimes in January 2025, unauthorised of access with intent to commit and impersonate the commitment other offences contrary to Section 386 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
“Samuel Ihechuckwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, Hamzat Zakariya, Onyeimachi Fabian, Achonu Chukwuka Ubaka, Sunday Osademe and Nurudeen Ibrahim, Alhaji Sulaiman at large and other persons at large, sometimes in January 2025, sometimes in January 2025, had unauthorised access to Wema Bank computer and server with intent to facilitate the stealing of an aggregate sum of sum of N8,568,090,500 billion from account domiciled at Wema Bank Nigeria PLC.”
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025, for trial.
