The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged ₦10 billion fraud involving Fidelity Bank Plc.
Naijaonpoint reports that the defendants, Ibeh Emmanuel, Chidiebere Ihekoronye and Akubuo Chimuanya, were arraigned before Justice Olubusola A. Okunuga on Wednesday on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents and forgery.
A fourth suspect, Austen Peaks Aniekan, is said to be at large.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain ₦10bn from Fidelity Bank through forged documents and false representations.
One of the counts alleged that on or about April 16, 2026, the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum from the bank by falsely claiming that Maton Engineering Limited, which maintains account number 4011468821 with Fidelity Bank, had issued an irrevocable standing order.
The alleged order was said to have directed the reservation, blocking and transfer of the funds in favour of Prospera Finance Limited, domiciled with Wema Bank Plc.
The anti-graft agency said the representation was false and that the defendants knew it to be false at the time it was made.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants attempted to obtain the money based on the same purported instruction and false representation.
The commission said the alleged offences contravened Sections 1(1)(a), 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The agency also accused Emmanuel of possessing a document purportedly issued by Fidelity Bank confirming the existence of blocked funds amounting to ₦10bn in favour of Prospera Finance Limited, which he allegedly knew to be false.
The defendants were also accused of forging a document titled, “Confirmation of Ten Billion Naira (₦10,000,000,000.00) Blocked Funds in Favour of Prospera Finance Limited,” purportedly emanating from Fidelity Bank Plc.
The EFCC alleged that the document was fabricated without lawful authority, contrary to Section 365(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, urged the court to fix a trial date and asked that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending the determination of their bail applications.
Justice Okunuga ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The judge adjourned the matter until June 18, 2026, for the hearing of their bail applications and commencement of trial.
The EFCC said investigations into the alleged fraud were ongoing, adding that efforts were being intensified to arrest Aniekan, who remains at large.
