AISHA ABUBAKAR
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a suspected hacker, Michael Anan Onimisi, who developed a software, which he used to swindle First City Monument Bank of over N17m undetected within minutes in Kaduna State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Michael, allegedly developed a software code named: “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc before it was later discovered.
He has been arraigned before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna on six-count charges bordering on internet fraud and money laundering.
The defendant landed in trouble when the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC received a petition from First City Monument Bank Plc, dated June 23, 2023, alleging that the defendant, sole proprietor of Ohoiza Crafts, hacked into the bank system.
The defendant, Michael Anan Onimisi, was accused of developing the software to hack into the security system of the bank, withdrew N17, 785,010.75 and transferred it to his personal account.
One of the count read: “That you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June, 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retain the total sum of N17, 785,010.75 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”.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, N. Salele, asked the Court to give a date for trial since the defendant pleaded not guilty to enable the prosecution to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Prosecutor also asked the Court to remand the defendant at a Correctional Centre before the commencement of trial.
But the defence counsel, Rabiu Mohammed, informed the Court of an application for bail before the Court which the prosecutor,
Salele, objected and pleaded for more time to study and respond.
Justice Aikawa, having listened to the both counsels, thereafter adjourned the matter till October 19, 2023, for hearing on bail application and December 6, 2023 for commencement of trial.
The Court also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna, pending when the Court will rule on his bail application.