An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecution witness, Chris Owai, has accused two former staff of First Bank Nigeria of falsifying the account number of Chevron Multipurpose Cooperative to enable them steal N41.5m.
The witness, who is the Head of Internal Audit at First Bank, appeared before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday.
Owai noted that the firs defendant, Stella Oyeluyi, is a former business manager attached to the Chevron Branch of First Bank at Lekki.
Owai said Oyeluyi recalled the investment of Chevron Multipurpose Cooperative to pay money to another bank customer without their consent.
READ ALSO: Four Men Gang-Rape Teenager As Revenge On Her Father
Oyeluyi and Noel Benjamin are standing trial alongside Graham Ehigiator, the Managing Director of Bvee International Limited, on three counts of conspiracy to commit felony, fraudulent false accounting, and stealing.
The witness, while being led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, told the court that on March 28, 2019, Chevron Multipurpose Cooperative called in its investment from First Bank Quest Asset Management, which was a subsidiary of the bank that handled facility above N10m.
“At the time they called in their investment, the new business manager of the branch was the first defendant. The audit department discovered a shortfall to the tune of N84m when the investment was called,” the witness said.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened sections 278, 335(a) and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case till December 9 for continuation of trial.