Two staff of Access Bank, Agbo John Agama and Edoh Steve, are to spend the next three years in prison each for stealing N9.4 million from a customer’s account using a forged ATM card.
Justice Mojisola Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja convicted and sentenced the duo for conspiracy, aiding and abetting fraud to the tune of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9, 400,000) on Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement.
The anti-graft agency said that the convicts were prosecuted on a one-count charge by its Makurdi Zonal Command.
The charge reads, “That you, Agbo John Agama “M” and you Edoh Oga Steve “M” while being employees of Access Bank Plc Makurdi Branch and others now at large, on or about the 8th day of January, 2021 at Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used an unauthorized access device to wit: a primed ATM Card on Account No. 30041040648 being operated by one Mejuru Chibueze Gospel with Access Bank resulting a loss of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,400,000) Only to him, thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 33(2)(b) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
According to the statement, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them.
In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Olajuwon convicted and sentenced them to three years imprisonment each.
The judge also ordered the convicts to pay a fine of N100,000 each to the Federal Government of Nigeria and restitute the victim in the sum of N2.1 million each.