An alleged fraudster who allegedly hacked several Unity Bank accounts and stole $64,822.97 (about N23.3million) with an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, has been brought before an Igbosere Magistrates' Court, Lagos.
In a report by The Nation, the suspect identified as Adeagbo Samson Bayonle, 37, was accused of committing the alleged crime in connivance with one Dayo Ogunseyitan.
The crime took place on November 6, 2017. The theft was discovered following complaints by affected account owners in several Nigerian cities.
The bank initiated an audit which confirmed the theft, following which it reported the matter through a petition to Commissioner of Police (CP) Special Fraud Unit, (PSFU), Ikoyi, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.
Lamorde, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directed a team led by Assitant Superintendent (SP) Lazarus Nurus to investigate the complaint.
The team, following a tip-off, tracked the defendant and Ogunseyitan to their hideout at an undisclosed location in Lagos.
The defendant was arrested, but, according to the police, Ogunseyitan fled and is now at large. Bayonle was arraigned yesterday before Mr B. I. Bakare on a two-count charge of stealing.
Prosecuting Inspector Wewe Adegbayi informed the court in charge No. V/73/2017 that the defendant and Ogunseyitan withdrew the sums from several ATMs in Lagos, Ibadan and other cities.
Adegbayi said after hacking the bank's system, both men modified a naira ATM card so it could withdraw dollars, following which they withdrew $64,822.97 from the accounts.
According to him, the offences contravened sections 285 and 323(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Bayonle pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Olusegun Adaranijo prayed the court to grant him bail, promising that Bayonle would not jump bail.
In a bench ruling, Magistrate Bakare granted him N5 million bail with two surties in the like sum, one of whom must be a landed property owner in Lagos.
Bakare also directed each surety to deposit N50,000 in the court's Chief Registrar's account.
The magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi Prison, untill he fulfils the bail conditions.
The case continues on January 12, 2018.
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