A scandal with roots in Abakaliki is currently unfolding in a Lagos courtroom, drawing national attention and raising questions about internal controls within the Nigerian banking system.
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began its prosecution in a high-profile fraud case involving over N5.7 billion allegedly siphoned from Access Bank Plc. At the heart of the case is Olajide Ogunmoroti, a former ICT staff of Access Bank’s Abakaliki branch.
Ogunmoroti is standing trial alongside three others—Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike, and Moses Iruolaje—before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe at the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The defendants are facing a ten-count amended charge bordering on stealing, retention of proceeds of crime, money laundering, obtaining credit by false pretence, and unauthorized access to computer systems.
The court heard that in 2023, the defendants allegedly conspired to manipulate bank systems and create fake overdraft limits on customer accounts, enabling them to withdraw huge sums from accounts that had no funds. According to one of the charges, a total of N2.25 billion was diverted. Another charge puts an additional N3.47 billion as part of the funds allegedly stolen from the bank—both figures representing Access Bank’s property.
Testifying as the EFCC’s first witness, Abdulmajeed Agboola, a staff of Access Bank, explained how a system anomaly led to the unravelling of the fraud. He said the bank’s server had experienced a strange glitch, which was later traced to its Abakaliki branch, where Ogunmoroti worked as the ICT representative.
“There was a fraudulent overdraft limit maintained on some customer accounts, which enabled withdrawals from accounts that had no money. These funds were then transferred to other accounts within Access Bank and in other banks,” Agboola told the court.
The suspicious activity prompted further investigation, and all indications pointed back to Ogunmoroti. “He eventually admitted to using a personal laptop to connect to the bank’s server—an action that clearly violates our IT policy,” Agboola said.
Even more concerning, CCTV footage that could have provided critical visual evidence had been completely wiped. The court heard that this was likely done to cover up the unauthorized access and subsequent transfers.
Following the testimony, the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid Tukur, tendered documents—including petitions from the bank—which were admitted in evidence without objection from the defence.
Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to May 20, 2025, for continuation of trial.
For many in Ebonyi, especially those familiar with the Abakaliki branch of Access Bank, the revelations raise uncomfortable questions. How did such a massive fraud originate in a quiet branch of the bank? How long did it go undetected? And most importantly—were there more people involved?
As the trial progresses, more answers may emerge. For now, the state watches closely as one of its own stands at the center of a multi-billion naira financial controversy.
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