EFCC Arraigns Suspected Hacker for Developing Software to Defraud First City Monument Bank in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Michael Anan Onimisi before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. On October 13, 2023, Mr. Onimisi was accused of developing a software code-named “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” with the intent to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc of the sum of N17,785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira, and Seventy-Five Kobo).

Onimisi faces six-count charges related to internet fraud and money laundering, with one count alleging that he retained the mentioned funds from First City Monument Bank Plc, knowing that they were proceeds of an unlawful act. This is in violation of Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

Upon hearing the charges, Mr. Onimisi pleaded not guilty. The prosecution counsel, N. Salele, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional Center before the trial begins.

However, the defense counsel, Rabiu Mohammed, informed the court of an application for bail. Salele objected to this, asking for more time to study and respond to the bail application.

Justice Aikawa, after considering both sides, adjourned the matter until October 19, 2023, for the hearing on the bail application and set December 6, 2023, as the date for the commencement of the trial. The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna.

The trouble for the defendant began when the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC received a petition from First City Monument Bank Plc, dated June 23, 2023. The bank alleged that Michael Anan Onimisi, the sole proprietor of Ohoiza Crafts, had hacked into their system and fraudulently withdrawn N17,785,010.75 from their account, transferring the funds to his own account. The EFCC took swift action to investigate and bring the accused to justice.