Court documents have revealed how Moniepoint Microfinance Bank got hacked by one Sunday Ozimede who successfully wiped the sum of N1,190, 728, 076 from its vault.
Ozimede, 43, now standing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos, was arraigned by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) on charges of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
The alleged hacker was also accused of causing financial loss to Moniepoint Microfinance Bank to the tune of N145 million, by planting a bug in the bank’s data system.
Police prosecutor Justine Enang, a lawyer, told the court that Ozimede and others now on the run, committed the alleged offences sometime in May, 2024.
According to Enang, Ozimede, fraudulently diverted the sum from various customers of the bank and transfered the funds through numerous transactions to other banks.
The police said the defendant was arraigned for the alleged crime which contravenes the law and is punishable under Sections 27 (i)(b); 14 of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024.
After pleading not guilty to the alleged crime, the police pleaded with the court to remand Ozimede in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the conclusion of the trial. This was kicked against by defence lawyer, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, who moved for his bail.
Ruling, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, admitted the defendant bail in the sum N50 million with one surety in like sum while the surety must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter has been adjourned to March 13, 2025.
