Halima Buba, Managing Director/CEO, and Innocent Mbagwu, Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank Ltd, were arraigned on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja. They face charges related to an alleged $12 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the two senior bankers before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The anti-graft agency claims that Buba and Mbagwu, at various times, helped individuals make large cash payments totaling millions of dollars, bypassing official financial institutions.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, HALIMA BUBA, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer SunTrust Bank Ltd, and INNOCENT MBAGWU being the Executive Director /Chief Compliance Officer SunTrust Bank Ltd on the 10th day of March, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court aided Femi Gbamgboye to make a cash payment of the sum of Three Million United States Dollars ($3,000,000) to Suleiman Muhammed Chiroma and associates without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2l(a), 2(1), 19(l)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
Count three reads: “That you, HALIMA BUBA, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Bank Ltd and INNOCENT MBAGWU, the Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank Ltd on the 13th day of March, 2025 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to make a cash payment of the sum of Three Million United States Dollars ($3,000,000) to Mukhtar Miko an associate of Suleiman Muhammed Chiroma without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2l(a), 2( 1 ), 19(1 )( d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
Persecondnews reports that the duo entered a “not-guilty” plea.
The trial of SunTrust Bank executives Halima Buba and Innocent Mbagwu on fraud charges began with lead prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) declaring the prosecution’s readiness and requesting an accelerated hearing.
However, defence counsel J.J. Usman (SAN) countered by bringing up existing bail applications for the defendants, dated May 27, 2025.
He urged the court to grant these applications and admit his clients to bail.
In a sharp response, Oyedepo argued that the May 27 bail applications were incompetent, contending that bail applications are only appropriate when defendants are under arrest, in detention, or have appeared in court – conditions not met in this instance, as per the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
He criticized the defendants for seeking bail “from the comfort of their homes or offices” before any action had been taken against them.
Consequently, he urged the court to dismiss the existing applications and advised the defendants to submit new ones in court.
Despite the prosecution’s strong opposition, Justice Nwite proceeded to grant bail to both defendants.
Each was granted bail in the sum of N100 million, with one surety each in the like sum.
The judge stipulated that the sureties must possess landed properties in Abuja, with the particulars of these properties to be deposited with the court.
Furthermore, the sureties are required to deposit their passports and two recent passport photographs with the court.
All documents provided by the sureties, including their residences, must undergo verification by the court before approval.
Pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions, the defendants were ordered to be remanded in a correctional facility.
The case has been adjourned until July 17 and 18 for the continuation of the trial.
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