Suspected Hacker Land In Prison Over Alleged N15m Fraud

Posted on January 24, 2025

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Operatives of the Finacial Malpractices Investigation Unit, FMIU of the Nigeria Police at Lekki, Lagos have arrested a 36 years old suspected hacker, Nicholas Oko Ogar and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly hacking into the platform of Divest Limited and fraudulently withdraw the sum of N15 million from the account of the complainant.

Police alleged that Ogar allegedly modified the system of the complainant and hacked into its account to steal the money and fled.

Police further alleged that following the development, the complainant petioned the Inspector General of Police. IGP who directed his men at the FMIU, Lekki to investigate the matter leading to the arrest of the defendant at a hideout in Lagos through intelligence gathering and tracking.

After investigation by Inspector Emmanuel Moris and his team, the defendant was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a four count charge bordering on fraud, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

Police counsel, Ben Ekundayo told the Court in the charge marked TA/10/2025 that the defendant committed the offence on 10 December, 2024 in Lagos.

Ekundayo informed the court that the defendant hacked into the platform of the management of Divest Limited to fraudulently withdraw the sum of N15 million from the account of the complainant and escaped before he was tracked and arrested.

He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411, 389(1), 314(3) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate, M. Owunmi granted him N5 million bail with two surties in like sum.

Owunmi adjourned the case till 13 February 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.