A former banker, Christopher Jackson Edeh, has been sentenced to a total of 39 years' imprisonment for his role in a massive N2.7 billion fraud. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2026, at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, presided over by Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe.

Edeh was arraigned on February 28, 2024, facing nine counts related to fraudulent activities, including fraudulent accounting and unauthorised access to a computer system. The charges detailed how he manipulated bank account information of various customers and government entities, which included significant organizations such as the Kano State Government Power Intervention Fund, NNPC Trading Limited, and Stallion Vision Ltd. Other affected entities included the Lagos State Government Blue Line, the State Contributory Pension Account, and the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by counsel Z.B. Atiku, presented three witnesses and submitted numerous documents to substantiate their claims against Edeh. In contrast, the defense called only one witness in an attempt to refute the allegations.

In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe determined that the prosecution had successfully established the case against Edeh beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to his conviction on all nine counts. The court imposed a sentence of five years imprisonment for each of the first seven counts, which pertained to fraudulent false accounting, and two years for each of the last two counts, which involved unauthorized access to computer systems intended to facilitate criminal activities. Importantly, all sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Edeh will serve a total of 39 years.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat financial crimes in Nigeria, particularly those involving significant sums of money and affecting public institutions. The EFCC has been actively pursuing individuals involved in fraudulent activities to ensure accountability and restore public trust in financial systems.