Eight fraudsters have been arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly hacking into the server of an online Financial Tech. Company, (ITEX Integrated Service Limited), stealing N435, 386, 699. 99.
The defendants are; Awopetu Tosin, Ajibade Ayodeyi, Aderuku Adedayo, Adigun Benjamin, Miller Oluwafemi, Olaleye Samuel Ajibade Ayomide, and Ojo Olwaseun are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, hacking, stealing and fraud levied against them by the Lagos state Police Command.
The prosecutor, Barr. Morufu Animashaun, explained how the defendants conspired among themselves and others now at large to commit the offence on September 7, 2022, at 1E, Sinari Daranijo Street, VI, Lagos.
Animashaun told the court that the first defendant allegedly received the sum of N29.9million, while the second defendant got N51million, the third and fourth defendants benefitted N19million, N20m, while from fifth to eighth defendants benefitted N13m, N3m, N13m and N20m respectively from the fraudulent proceeds
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 8(a), 1(1)(a), 2(a) and 7(2)(b)of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendants’ not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court to remand them till the determination of the charges against them.
But the defendants’ counsel, F. F. Abisagbo, told the court that he had filed his clients’ bail application and the same had been served on the prosecution.
The prosecutor, however, told the court that he had not been served with the application.
The court also confirmed that the defendants’ bail application was not before the court.
Consequently, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services, and adjourned the case till April 27, for the commencement of trial.
