The Kaduna zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a suspected hacker, Michael Anan Onimisi, for developing a software code to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc.
A statement signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, revealed that he was arraigned on October 13, 2023 before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna for developing software code named ‘Bee-Leaf’ and ‘Real Eve’ to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc of N17, 785,010.75.
The anti-graft agency said the bank FCMB had had filed a petition on June 23, 2023 alleging that the suspect hacked into their system and fraudulently withdrew N17,785,010.75k from the bank account and transferred it to his account.
He was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on internet fraud and money laundering.
“That you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retained the total sum of N17, 785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy-Five Kobo only), from First City Monument Bank Plc, which funds you knew forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d)of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act,” part of the count reads.
The suspect, according to the EFCC pleaded not guilty to the charges following which the prosecutor, N. Salele, ask the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant at a correctional centre before the commencement of trial.
While the defence counsel, Mr Rabiu Mohammed informed the court of an application for bail before the court, Salele objected and pleaded for more time to study and respond to it.
After listening to the arguments of the counsel, the judge adjourned the case to October 19, 2023, for hearing on the bail application and December 6, 2023 for commencement of trial.
Besides, he ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kaduna correctional centre.
