Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Lagos Special Offences Court has sentenced former banker Christopher Edeh to 39 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.7 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in a statement on Tuesday, said Mr Edeh was prosecuted following his arraignment in 2024.

The anti-graft agency noted that he faced nine counts bordering on fraudulent accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system.

“The court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts one to seven, bordering on fraudulent false accounting, and two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on each of counts eight and nine, relating to unauthorised access to a computer system with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes,” the statement said.

Mr Edeh was prosecuted for altering the bank account details of several customers and government-related entities, including the Kano government’s Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, Stallion Vision Ltd, the Lagos government’s Blue Line, the Contributory Pension Account and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, with intent to defraud.

During the trial, prosecuting counsel, Z.B. Atiku, called three witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence to establish the case against the defendant. 

The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently convicted Mr Edeh on the nine counts.

The court ordered that all the sentences run concurrently.