MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two men, Babatunde Adebisi Adebayo, 29 and Babarinde Olanrewaju Tolani, 25, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly hacking into the accounts of One Pipe Chedda Billing On-line Company and siphoning funds to the tune of N79m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Badagry Street, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja and Popoola Close, Agbe Road, Abule-Egba, Lagos State, where the company offices are located.
According to the Police, the suspects manipulated the company’s account and allegedly stole the money and then shared it into 12 differents bank accounts before the company later discovered.
The matter was reported to the Police at Oko Oba Division. The operatives moved into action, arrested the suspects and detained at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read :
COUNT 1: “That you, Babatunde Adebisi Adebayo “M” and Babarinde Olanrewaju Tolani “M” and others now at large on the 30th day June 2024 at One Pipe Chedda Billing On-line Company, Badagry Street, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja and Popoola Close, Agbe Road, Abule-Egba, Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:” That you, Babatunde Adebisi Adebayo “M” and Babarinde Olanrewaju Tolani “M” and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned magisterial District, did steal sum of N79,215,400.00 (Seventy-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Four Hundred Naira) Only and shared it into twelve (12) differents Bank Accounts, properties of One Pipe Chedda Billing On-line Company at Badagry Street, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O.Tanimola, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.