A suspected fraudster, Okoli Nmesoma, 20, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conniving with others still at large to hack into the mobile app account of the management of Ecobank Plc and unlawfully withdrew N207m which they shared.
Police alleged that the management of the bank at its headquarters uncovered the fraud when they audited the account books. The matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Ikoyi Divjsion,,Lagos, SP Tijani Mustapha who directed a team led by Tope Ijatuyi to arrest the suspect.
Detectives arrested the accused at a hideout after days of investigation.
The accused was charged before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a four-count charge of felony, to wit: unlawfully hacking into bank account and stealing.
Police Counsel, Jimoh Joseph informed the Court in charge No A/37A/2018 that the accused and others still at large committed the alleged crime on 27 April, 2018 at Igboelerin, Okokomaiko, Ojo,Lagos.
Joseph told the Court that the accused connived with others still at large to unlawfully hacked into Ecobank Plc Mobile App Acquire suspense account No 9983104199 through phones and computers to withdraw N207m and transferred the money to about 162 accounts from where they withdrew the money and shared it.
He said that the offences committed by the accused and his accomplices were punishable under sections 411, 387,287 and 325 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime and Chief Magistrate O. Oshin granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
Oshin adjourned the case till 14 July, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Prison Lagos till he fulfilled the bail conditions.
