Banker sentenced to four years in Prison for fraud in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Ugenyi Kalu, a banker, who was sentenced to four years and two months in prison by the Ikeja Special Offences Court for fraud.

In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday, the EFCC revealed that Kalu was convicted after being arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi on five counts of official corruption and gratification.

One of the charges read: “That you, Ugenyi Kalu, sometime in November 2016 in Lagos, while serving in a bank, received a monetary benefit of ₦4,000,000 from one Obi Ogoh in connection with a loan granted to an Agro Mills by your Bank. This act is contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and is punishable under Section 8(1)(b)ii of the same law.”

Despite pleading not guilty, the case proceeded to a full trial. The prosecution, led by G.C. Ofulue, presented six witnesses, including two former colleagues of Kalu from his bank, who testified against him.

On February 12, Justice Oshodi ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, convicting Kalu on four counts.

“The defendant is convicted on four of the charges and sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,850,000,” Justice Oshodi declared.

This conviction adds to the EFCC’s recent successes in prosecuting financial crimes. In 2019, the commission secured the conviction of Anayo Nwosu and Olajide Oshodi, from another bank, who were sentenced to five years in prison for their role in an ₦855 million fraud—a verdict upheld by the Court of Appeal in April 2024.