Two former bankers sentenced in Enugu for ₦10.3m pension fraud by the EFCC.

Justice has finally caught up with two former bank officials in Enugu who targeted the life savings of the elderly. Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo have been sentenced to prison for their roles in diverting over ₦10.3 million from unsuspecting customers, many of whom were pensioners.

The sentencing was handed down by Justice A.O. Onovo at the Enugu State High Court, following a long-running prosecution by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The journey to the dock began in January 2016, when the EFCC first arraigned the pair on a 15-count charge. The charges included conspiracy, forgery, and stealing. 

At the time of the crimes, both men were staff members of Intercontinental Bank Plc, which has since transitioned into Access Bank Plc.

Evidence presented in court revealed a heartless scheme where the bankers abused their access to the bank's internal systems.

They identified dormant accounts belonging to pensioners and reactivated them without the owners' knowledge. This allowed them to siphon millions of naira for their personal use.

Specific details from the trial highlighted the extent of the theft. In one brazen move, the duo unlawfully withdrew ₦4.44 million from an account belonging to a customer identified as Udekwu F.A.O. In another instance, they drained over ₦2.1 million from the account of Onuora George.

Despite the defendants pleading "not guilty" and forcing a full trial, the EFCC’s legal team presented five witnesses and a mountain of documentary evidence that proved their guilt.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Onovo sentenced Hillary Odo to five years imprisonment for each of the two counts he was convicted of. 

Sani Aferokhe, found guilty on 11 counts, was also sentenced to five years for most charges and three years for the final count.

While the court provided an option of a ₦100,000 fine for each count, the conviction serves as a stern warning. It underscores the judiciary's commitment to protecting the vulnerable from financial predators within the banking system.