ABIMBOLA OSARUGUE OBASEKI-ADEJUMO, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the Federal High Court, coram HON. JUSTICE I. N. BUBA delivered on 9th February, 2018, wherein the lower Court convicted the Appellant on a 4-count charge of offence punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004.
The background fact is that a petition was received by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the United Bank of Africa (the “Bank”) against the Appellant bordering on fraudulent activities. The Petitioner alleged that the Audit and Investigation Department of the bank got a fraud alert from the Regional Auditor of the Bank, Ibadan that a fraud of N25 Million was uncovered in its branch at Asaba, and the Appellant was responsible for the fraudulent withdrawal from the customers’ account using fictitious and forged documents. A formal report made by the Bank to the EFCC and Appellant was handed over to the EFCC. It was subsequ…