A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday denied bail to three persons accused of hacking the computer network of Union Bank and stealing N1.4 billion.
The defendants include politician Ismaila Atumeyi, a former employee of Union Bank Abdulmalik Salau and Ngene Joshua.
Mr Atumeyi is the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate for the Ankpa 11 Constituency for next year’s House of Assembly election in Kogi.
The trio was on Monday arraigned by the Lagos zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 18-count charge before Justice Tijjani Ringim.
The court heard that they carried out a “modification of data held in the network of the bank, leading to the fraudulent transfer of the total sum of N1,403,343,400 to the account of FAV OIL AND GAS LIMITED.”
The EFCC allegedly recovered N326million and $140,500 from the black Escalade Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of one of the defendants during an operation at his hideout in Queens Estate, Gwarinpa.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and applied for bail through their counsel Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN).
However, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) opposed the application and prayed for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
Ruling on the application and counter-application on Tuesday, Justice Tijjani Ringim upheld Oyedepo’s arguments that the defendants were a flight risk and the probability of them jumping bail is high.
The court noted that the magnitude of the offence is such the defendants can interfere with the law enforcement procedure and run away.
It noted further that extradition procedures from anywhere are such a cumbersome process.
“In all, I hold that the bail application filed and argued by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed,” Justice Ringim held.
He remanded the defendants in the Ikoyi Correctional facility and adjourned till January 24, 2023 for trial.
