First Bank Senior Managers Docked Over Alleged Forgery

Two senior officials of First Bank Nigeria Limited have been dragged before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of forgery and conspiracy to defraud.

The officials –identified as Temitope Ogheneteme, a Relationship Manager, and Nnedimma Arah, a Business Manager at the bank’s Dosumu and Balogun, Lagos Island branch– are facing a two-count criminal charge bordering on alleged forgery of corporate documents and conspiracy.

According to charge number FHC/L/582c/2025, filed by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lagos State Police Command, the alleged offences were committed between January 2023 and January 2024.

The two bankers are accused of conspiring to forge a letter of undertaking to bear FX differentials dated August 12, 2022, purportedly from Freshborn Industries Limited.

Prosecutors allege the document was falsified with the intent of presenting it as genuine to First Bank Nigeria Limited, ultimately to the detriment of the company and two individuals—Anene Ikenna and Anene Chinyere Angel.

The prosecution, led by Barrister Emmanuel Eze, stated that the acts contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, both laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The charge sheet read in part:

“That you, Temitope Ogheneteme and Nnedimma Arah, between January 2023 and January 2024, at First Bank Nigeria Limited, Dosumu Branch, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: forgery.”

“That you…did forge Freshborn Industries Limited’s letter of undertaking to bear FX differentials dated 12/8/2022, knowing it to be false and with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine by First Bank Nigeria Limited, to the prejudice of Anene Ikenna, Anene Chinyere Angel and Freshborn Industries Limited…”

The court has fixed November 5, 2025, for the arraignment of the defendants.

First Bank Nigeria Limited has yet to issue an official statement on the matter as of the time of this report.