The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Head of Operations at Access Bank Plc, Enugu branch, Obinna Nwaobi, for allegedly diverting $510,000 (N739 million) belonging to a customer.
Nwaobi appeared before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu, last Thursday, November 13, 2025, on a nine-count charge bordering on forgery and fraudulent diversion of funds from the account of Lantern Gate Nigeria Limited.
According to one of the charges, the defendant allegedly induced Access Bank on August 8, 2024, to transfer the funds under the false representation that the customer had approved the transaction, an offence contrary to Section 1(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another charge accused him of forging an Access Bank Domestic Fund Transfer Form dated August 28, 2024, to deceive the bank into treating it as genuine.
Nwaobi pleaded not guilty to all counts.
His counsel, F. C. Obinna, sought bail based on a motion supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit.
However, EFCC counsel ACE II Mainforce Adaka Ekwu opposed the bail request, citing an 11-paragraph counter-affidavit and arguing that the strength of evidence against the defendant could encourage him to flee.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo granted Nwaobi bail in the sum of N250 million, with three sureties in like sum.
Two sureties must own landed property in Enugu State and submit their title documents to the court, while the third must be a relative of the defendant and provide proof of tax payment for the past three years.
The court also directed the defendant and sureties to provide two passport photographs each, and ordered Nwaobi to surrender his international passport and National Identification Number pending the conclusion of the trial.
He was remanded at the Enugu Custodial Centre until the bail conditions are fulfilled. The case is scheduled for trial on March 10, 11, and 12, 2026.
The matter began in September 2024 when Access Bank petitioned the EFCC, alleging that unauthorised transfers were carried out from Lantern Gate Nigeria Limited’s account without the customer’s consent.
