BY AISHA ABUBAKAR
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of five individuals—including a bank manager and a nursing mother—for allegedly hacking into the server of Premium Trust Bank.
Among the defendants is Matthew Adeniyi Damilola, the bank’s E-Payment Service Manager, who was arraigned alongside Kehinde Odeyemi (a mother of a four-month-old baby), Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunnola.
The defendants were brought before Justice Alexander Owoeye on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and unlawful access to the bank’s database.
The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Prosecuting counsel, Zeenat B. Atiku, informed the court that the offences were committed between April and May 2025, allegedly in collaboration with three others—Humble, Isa Ismaila, and Victor Joshua Ilemona (a.k.a. Oracle)—who are currently at large.
According to the EFCC, Damilola unlawfully disclosed sensitive credentials, including the bank’s server IP and domain details, which enabled unauthorized access to Premium Trust Bank’s database. The data breach allegedly resulted in financial gains of $10,000.
Atiku further alleged that the co-defendants attempted to intercept the bank’s network and procured a Hewlett-Packard ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G) configured to bypass the bank’s security systems.
The prosecution stated that the alleged actions contravene Sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and are punishable under Section 28(2) of the same law.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and sought an order to remand the defendants in custody.
The court declined oral bail applications made by the defense, with Justice Owoeye directing that formal bail applications be filed instead.
The matter was adjourned to June 30, 2025, for trial. Meanwhile, the defendants were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge added that the defense may apply for an earlier trial date upon filing their bail applications.
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