Access Bank staff dragged before High Court for stealing N197.2 million from customer’s account

Staff of Access Bank who alledgedly forged a document titled: “Access Bank Fund Transfer/Standing Order Form” with different serial numbers have been dragged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

A female staff of Access Bank, Olawunmi Audu and one, Uche Glory Michael (now at large) forged the Bank document and stole the sum of N197.2 million from Customer’s Account.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the accused, saying they stole the amount from Chimex Aluminium and Steel Company Ltd, having forged the signature of the Company’s Managing Director, Mr. Paschal Nwabueze Innocent.

The anti-graft agency has filed a 21-count charge against the female banker, Olawunmi Audu who was said to be the Relationship Manager of the account of De Chimex Aluminium and Steel Company Limited domiciled with Access Bank.

The accused couldn’t be properly arraigned before Justice A.O. Ebong Federal High Court, Zuba Division, due to her absence in Court.

EFCC told the Court that the defendants, who are all staff of Access Bank Plc, allegedly transferred the funds to the account of Mikuch Global Ltd belonging to Michael Sado between May and June 2018 in Abuja.

The offences are punishable under sections 85, 287, and 364 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Audu’s lawyer, Aliyu Hassan explained that the defendant was unavoidably absent in Court, saying she went for a medical examination when the matter was called.

The Judge adjourned the matter till 22nd February, 2021 for arraignment which was not objected by the EFCC Counsel, Halidu Mohammed.

Moreso, CAPITAL POST esrlier, reports that about 1,000 staff of ACCESS Bank who were laid off in the peak of coronavirus pandemic in 2020 on Wednesday stormed the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos, protesting ridiculous payment of severance allowances.

They demanded that their entitlements be paid completely by the Bank management without delay.

The former staff were outsourced by different companies including: Workforce Management Center, Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited, Integrated Corporate Services Limited, U-connect, Strategic Outsourcing Limited and C & I Outsourcing among others.

Meanwhile, CAPITAL POST reports on Wednesday that Access Bank was rocked with protests for shortchanging former staff who were sacked in 2020 amid coronavirus pandemic.

Protesters who converged at the headquarters of the Bank in Lagos accused the financial institution of payment of ridiculous amount of money as severance packages.

In their placards, they wrote different inscriptions including: “Access Bank, where is your integrity”, “Access Bank, don’t let me unleash my family problem on you” and “Access Bank, pay us our entitlements” among others.

One of the protesters, Ojo Abiola, said he was employed by an outsourcing firm named C & M Exchange on February 5, 2012 and was later moved to Workforce under Diamond bank due to the merger with Access bank.

Abiola said the termination of employment took place on May 1, 2020 when COVID-19 was biting hard.

According to him, the bank gave ‘restructuring’ as reason for the termination.

“The sum of N30,000 was paid per years of service, which was too small and was also not paid fully.

He explained that upon being sacked, he.was.paid N180,000 which was far less than the number of years he has served, decrying that as a famiiy man, he pays for.
rent, and cannot start any business with the money.

Abiola appealed to government and all relevant stakeholders to call Access Bank to order and make the right payment that corresponds with the work done.

“There are people among us who have worked with the bank for more than 10 to 20 years.

“They are also paid the same N30,000 per year, and we are all still short paid.”

Abiola said that the outsourcing firms are not saying anything about their plights.