First Bank Senior Managers in Alleged Forgery Saga

Operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Lagos State Police Command have formally filed criminal charges against two officials of First Bank Nigeria Limited at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The accused, named in the charge labelled FHC/l/582 c/2025, are Temitope Ogheneteme and Nnedimma Arah.

Temitope serves as a Relationship Manager, while Nnedimma is the Business Manager at First Bank.

According to the charge document, these two officials are suspected of committing offences between January 2023 and January 2024 at the Dosumu and Balogun Lagos Island branches.

They are accused of conspiring to forge a letter of undertaking from Freshborn Industries Limited, dated August 12, 2022, to falsify FX differentials.

The alleged illegal activities are said to have been carried out to the disadvantage of Anene Ikenna, Anene Chinyere Angel, and Freshborn Industries Limited, under the false impression that the document was genuine and with the intent that it would be acted upon as such by First Bank Nigeria Limited.

Prosecutor Barrister Emmanuel Eze states that these actions breach section 516 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

The arraignment of the bankers is scheduled for November 5, 2025.

The charges read as follows: ‘ that you, Temitope Ogheneteme ‘f’ and Nnedimma Arah “f,” between January 2023 and January 2024 at First Bank Nigeria Limited, Dosumu and Balogun Lagos Island branches, conspired to commit forgery, an offence under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act. 

That you, Temitope Ogheneteme ‘f’ and Nnedimma Arah “f, ” between January 2023 and January 2024 at the same branches, forged a letter of undertaking from Freshborn Industries Limited to bear FX differentials, dated August 12, 2022, knowing it was false and with intent to deceive First Bank Nigeria Limited, thereby prejudicing Anene Ikenna, Anene Chinyere Angel, and Freshborn Industries Limited, which Constitutes a violation of section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”