Two middle-age men, Daniel Kelechi Ikeoha and Sylvester Ebeta have been remanded in the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) by a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauded Interswitch Nigeria Limited of the sum of N622 million.
Justice Yellim Bogoro who presided over the court, remanded both Daniel and Sylvester, after they pleaded not guilty to the charges of alleged conspiracy, hacking into the Interswitch’s server and unlawful conversion/taking possession of proceeds of an unlawful acts.
The offences which contravened sections 27(1)(b) and 14(1)of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024, Read along with Section 14(1) of the same Act.
The offence also contravened section 18(2)(b)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The two alleged hackers and others said to be at large, according to the Prosecutor, Barrister Justine Enang, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) at the Legal Department of PSFU, Ikoyi, Lagos, have between January 2022 and October 12, 2023, conspired among themselves to commit illegal acts.
CSP Enang had told the court the the two defendants and others at large, unlawfully suppressed the Interswitch Payment Gateway Merchants to interchange the system switch and caused multiple fraudulent transfer and withdrawals of N622 million, from various bank accounts of other customers to their own accounts.
The prosecutor had told the court that the defendants wired the N622 million to their under-listed banks and accounts: Kuda Microfinance Bank, account no. 2012900334; UBA Plc, account no. 2259918436; Zenith Bank Plc, account no, 225135546; Eco Bank Nigeria Limited, account no. 4360057510 and 4360057503; GTB Plc account nos. 0025473624, 0560512839; FCMB, account nos. 7358218027, 7358218010; Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, account no. 5397559320; GTB Plc, account no. 0167915358; Stalonvee Concept, Stalonvee Concept, account no. 6397559320, 5397602542 and Zenith Bank Plc, account no. 240753383.
Meanwhile, at the arraignment of the defendants on Friday, their lawyer, N. S. Hart, informed the court that she has two applications before the court.
She told the court that the first application is challenging the court’s jurisdiction in entertaining the charges against her client, because her clients have been charged before a magistrate court. Hence, the charges against them before the court was an abuse of court.
Hart also told the court that the second application is the bail application of her clients.
In response, the prosecutor told the court the charge before the magistrate court has been withdraw.
On the application for bail, the prosecutor told the court that he has responded to same, by filing a counter-affidavit.
Based on the submissions of the parties, Justice Bogoro ordered parties to move the bail application.
And upon taking arguments on the bail application, Justice Bogoro adjourned ruling till November 14, while ordered that the two defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
Charges against the alleged hackers read: “that you Daniel Kelechi Ikeoha ‘m’, Sylvester Ebeta ‘m’ and others now at large, sometimes in January 2022 and 12th October, 2023, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: obtaining the sum of N622, 000, 000.00 (Six Hundred and twenty Two Million Naira) by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024, Read along with Section 14(1) of the same Act.
“That you Daniel Kelechi Ikeoha ‘m’, Sylvester Ebeta ‘m’ and others now at large, sometimes in January 2022 and 12th October, 2023, in Lagos State, within the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did knowingly and without authority cause financial lost to Interswitch Nigeria Limited to the tune of N622, 000, 000.00 (Six Hundred and Twenty Two Million Naira) by suppressing the Interswitch Payment Gateway Merchants to interchange the system switch to cause multiple fraudulent transfer and withdrawals of funds from various bank account of other customers to your own accounts domiciled with the following banks: Kuda Microfinance Bank, account no. 2012900334, United Bank For Africa Plc, account no. 2259918436, Zenith Bank Plc, account no, 225135546, Eco Bank Nigeria Limited, account no. 4360057510 and 4360057503, Guaranty Trust Bank, account no. 0025473624, 0560512839, First City Monument Bank, account no. 7358218027, 7358218010 all belonging to Ikeocha Daniel Kelechi (1st Defendant) also Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, account no. 5397559320, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, account no. 0167915358, Stalonvee Concept, Stalonvee Concept, account no. 6397559320, 5397602542, Zenith Bank Plc, account no. 2407533831 etc. all belonging to Sylvester Ebeta (2nd Defendant) through the operational platform of Interswitch IPG Web Merchants and thereby conferred economic benefits on yourselves by converting the money in question to your own use against the Interswitch Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024.
“That you Daniel Kelechi Ikeoha ‘m’, Sylvester Ebeta ‘m’ and others now at large, sometimes in January 2022 and 12th October, 2023, in Lagos State, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of Federal High Court, Lagos, did directly or indirectly converts or transfers, retains or takes possession or control of funds belonging to Interswitch Nigeria Limited, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is, or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful Act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
