A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Cross River governorship candidate Wilfred Bonse arraigned over alleged cybercrime.
Mr Bonse was arraigned by the Nigeria Police National CyberCrime Centre, a statement by Force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi said on Monday.
The suspect, a resident of Flat 6 Block 9, Aso Garden Estate Karsana, Abuja, allegedly participated in a case of conspiracy to commit computer-related fraud, money laundering and sundry offenses to the tune of N50 million contrary to sections Section 14(1) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act ,2015, Sections 20(a)(b) & 21(a) of the money laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bonse, who contested the Cross River governorship election in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), was arraigned in connection with alleged financial fraud suffered by Patricia, a cryptocurrency firm, last year.
According to Adejobi, the move is a step further in the pursuit of justice in the investigation of Patricia’s security breach.
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The cryptocurrency firm is said to have suffered a loss of about N2 billion due to the breach.
“The case is also a boost to the relentless efforts of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre to combat cyber and cyber-enabled crime and financial fraud in the country and beyond,” he said.
The court ruled that the suspect be remanded at the correctional facility until the next date of hearing.
“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, while reiterating the unwavering commitment of the Force to upholding the law and ensuring justice for all, has directed the Force National Cybercrime Center under the leadership of CP Uche Henry to keep trailblazing trends in alignment with global best practices in combating cyber and cyber-enabled crime in its dynamics,” added the statement.
Last November, the police arrested Bonse, alleging he conspired to launder the sum of N50 million that originated from the said fraudulent diversion of N607 million from Patricia.
