The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentencing of Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo, two former bankers, for diverting N10.3 million belonging to bank customers.

According to a post on X by the commission on Wednesday the judgment was delivered by Justice A. O. Onovo of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu.

The case was handled by the EFCC and relates to offences committed while the convicts were staff of Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank Plc.

Aferokhe and Odo were arraigned on January 18, 2016, on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and stealing the fund on a seven count of the charge reads:

READ ALSO:Morocco Jails French Rapper Maes For Kidnapping Bid

“Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo on or about the 21st day of November, 2012 at Nsukka within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, while as servants of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc), stole the sum of Four Million, Four Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Naira (N4, 440, 000. 00) property of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc) from a customer account with account name Udekwu F. A. O with number 00237808311 domiciled in Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc) and thereby committed an offence”.

Count two of the charge reads:
“Sani Endurance Aferokhe and Hillary Odo on or about the 12th day of October 2012 at Nsukka within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while as servants of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc), stole the sum of Two Million, One Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Ten Naira, forty Kobo (N2, 113, 610. 40) property of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc) from a customer account with account name Onuora George with account number 0023781315 domiciled in Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc) and thereby committed an offence.

The offences are contrary to Section 459(a) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30 of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004. The defendants pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.

READ ALSO:Nigerian Jailed Six Years In U.S. For Sextortion

During the trial, the EFCC, through its counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani, presented five witnesses and tendered several documents as evidence.

In its judgment delivered on Friday, December 22, 2025, the court dismissed counts six and nine.

The second defendant was convicted on counts four and seven, while the first defendant was convicted on counts one, two, three, five, eight, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen.

The court sentenced the second defendant to five years’ imprisonment on counts four and seven, with an option of a N100,000 fine on each count.

The first defendant was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each of the counts, except count fifteen, for which he received a three-year sentence, all with an option of a N100,000 fine per count.

The convicts, who are former staff of Access Bank, were found guilty after conspiring to reactivate three dormant customer accounts belonging to pensioners without their consent and diverting the funds for personal use.

Six suspected miscreants have been arraigned for allegedly masterminding a violent attack on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and other collaborating agencies during a midnight enforcement operation along Airport Road, Lagos.

The suspects were brought before the Chief Magistrate of the Lagos State Mobile Court on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, on four separate charges linked to the incident.

The court adjourned the case to February 19, 2026, for further hearing.

While one defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was granted bail, the remaining six suspects were remanded in custody pending the continuation of proceedings.

READ ALSO:Court Remands Four Foreigners Over Alleged Kidnapping, Hostage Taking In Ogun

The enforcement operation, which resulted in the impoundment of 56 vehicles, was carried out to address persistent traffic and environmental violations in the area.
The seized vehicles included 44 commercial buses, five private cars, and seven trucks.

The late-night exercise was personally supervised by the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, and conducted jointly with security operatives, the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI Corps, the Lagos State Task Force, and LASTMA field officers.

Authorities said the operation followed repeated formal complaints from the Nigerian Airport Authority, NPA, over illegal activities and encroachment on its facilities by criminal groups and non-compliant commercial drivers operating in clear violation of existing regulations.

The NPA reportedly raised concerns that the activities of the illegal operators had become a major nuisance along the airport corridor, citing frequent cases of harassment, intimidation, and dispossession of unsuspecting members of the public.

READ ALSO:Court Dismisses Ex-Binance Chief’s Claims Of Unlawful Detention Against EFCC

During the enforcement exercise, five officers attached to the joint task force were attacked with dangerous weapons by the suspects.
In an apparent attempt to disrupt the operation, one of LASTMA’s tow trucks was also deliberately set on fire.

Despite the violent resistance and threat to lives and public assets, the enforcement officers were said to have conducted themselves with restraint, professionalism, and courage throughout the operation.

Reacting to the incident, Mr Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s determination to protect critical infrastructure, ensure the safety of road users, and maintain law and order across the state.

He stressed that the government would not yield to intimidation or tolerate violence from criminal elements, warning that acts of lawlessness would be met with decisive legal action.

The LASTMA boss further assured residents that enforcement activities along key and strategic corridors in Lagos would continue unabated, in collaboration with sister agencies, to curb criminal activities, restore order, and safeguard lives and property across the metropolis.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested 13 suspected members of a cult group and recovered several firearms and other dangerous items.

The suspects were arrested during an initiation ceremony at the Ekraka Community forest in Kokori on Saturday.

The operation carried out late-night during a tactical operation in Ethiope East local government area of the state followed credible intelligence that members of the Aiye Confraternity, also known as Black Axe, were planning an initiation.

Police, operatives of the Quick Response Squad, led by its commander, SP Collins Achem, were swiftly deployed to the area to prevent the gathering.

READ ALSO:

The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement.

“At about 11:00 p.m., the patrol team encountered the suspects, who reportedly engaged the operatives in a gun duel upon sighting them.

“The operatives responded decisively, leading to the arrest of 13 suspects, while several others escaped deeper into the forest.

“A search of the forest resulted in the recovery of two automatic pump-action guns, one double-barrel cut-to-size gun, one single-barrel cut-to-size gun and a battle axe.

READ ALSO:

“Other items recovered included aprons bearing “NBM” insignia, razor blades cut into pieces, mobile phones, charms, and suspected hard drugs.

“In addition, seven vehicles believed to be owned and used by members of the cult group were recovered and towed to the QRS Base in Warri.

“The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine their individual roles, dismantle the cult network, and apprehend other fleeing members,” the statement read.

The Delta State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with credible information to enhance security across the state.

He told parents, schools, community and faith leaders, as well as youths, to see the fight against cultism as a collective responsibility.