Three university students were on Monday charged at a Nairobi court with conspiring to defraud Sidian Bank of more than Sh7.8 million through a sophisticated scheme of siphoning funds from customer accounts.
The suspects – Nelson Christiano Nangole, John Oboni Odidi, and Phostine Hesbon Ochieng – appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo facing charges of stealing, handling stolen property, and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, the offences were allegedly committed on January 11, 2025, at unknown locations within Kenya.
Investigators claim the three colluded with others still at large to illegally transfer Sh7,882,845 from multiple Sidian Bank accounts into personal and third-party bank and M-Pesa accounts.
- John Oboni Odidi, a JKUAT student, is accused of stealing Sh458,313 from a Sidian customer and moving the funds into his I&M Bank accounts.
- Phostine Hesbon Ochieng, a Thika Technical Training Institute student, allegedly diverted Sh451,346 from Kericho Tractor Centre’s account and later transferred the money into his National Bank and M-Pesa accounts.
The case is set for further mention as police pursue other suspects linked to the alleged fraud.
