4 in court over alleged cyber fraud
Four business associates who allegedly stole from bank accounts through the Internet were on Thursday in Lagos charged before a Somolu Magistrates’ Court.
Austine Olise, 38; Frankline Okafor, 31; Bolanle Ayilogun, 46, and Uche Ojiakor, 43, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy to defraud and steal.
The four, who reside in Yaba, Maryland and Isolo areas in Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty.
ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, the prosecutor, said that the accused, on April 2, hacked into the accounts of Mr Wilson Mba and stole N1,033,000 and $1,000 from two of his Diamond Bank accounts.
Adegoke said the four accused persons orchestrated the crime and executed it at Plot 8, Olu-Ogunyemi St., Arowojobe, Mende, Maryland.
He said that the accused obtained the account details of Mba by fraudulent means to defraud him (victim).
“Olise, Okafor, Ayilogun and Ojiakor, on April 2, hacked into Mr Mba’s Diamond Bank accounts and moved the sum of N1,033,000 and 1,000 US dollars from his domiciliary account.
“The four likely connived with a source close to the complainant, yet unidentified, to obtain Mr Mba’s account details,” Adegoke said.
He said the offences contravened sections 285, 323 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that if they are found guilty, they could face seven years imprisonment.
The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi adjourned the case till July 3 for hearing. (NAN)