Police to arraign four over cybercrime

Date:

Police to arraign four over cybercrime

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 21 for the arraignment of four defendants, including a commercial bank, over allegations of unlawfully accessing and disclosing the confidential financial records of a company.

The defendants are Oluwaseyi Famousa, Paul Oku, Zenith Bank Plc and Yesu-Felix Abosede Alice.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa fixed the date on Monday after the Inspector-General of Police informed the court that the defendants would be arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and unauthorised access to banking data.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/349/2026, alleged that the defendants, between December 4, 2025 and January 22, 2026, conspired to unlawfully access, obtain, transmit and disclose confidential financial records belonging to Makers Island Company Limited without lawful authority or a court order.

The police further alleged that they used electronic communication systems and banking computer infrastructure to access, intercept, alter and disclose the company’s confidential financial information, thereby compromising the integrity of its banking records.

When the matter came up on Monday, only the first defendant, Famousa, was present in court.

Counsel for the prosecution, F.G. Gabriel, informed the court that all the defendants had been served with the charge except Zenith Bank, which he said would be served before the close of work.

Following the prosecution’s submission, Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter until July 21 for the defendants to be formally arraigned.

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired to commit cybercrime by unlawfully obtaining and transmitting the confidential financial records of Makers Island Company Limited, contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

The prosecution also accused them of unlawfully accessing confidential bank account statements and electronic records from a secured computer system belonging to Zenith Bank without lawful authority, an offence said to be contrary to Section 6 of the Act.

In another count, the defendants were alleged to have unlawfully intercepted electronic communications relating to the company’s banking records while they were in transmission through computer systems without judicial authorisation, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.

The police further alleged that Paul Oku and Yesu-Felix Abosede Alice, acting in concert with others, unlawfully disclosed and transmitted confidential financial records of Makers Island Company Limited to an email address, [email protected], without lawful authority or a court order.

The charge further accused the four defendants of fraudulently obtaining, diverting and manipulating confidential banking information with the intent to secure unlawful gain or cause disadvantage, unlawfully interfering with electronic communications and account-related data, intercepting electronic mail communications, and manipulating the operational access and control of the company’s bank account and electronic records.

The offences are alleged to be contrary to Sections 6, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).

Nathaniel Shaibu

Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Join The Punch Newspapers Channel

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.

Get the Punch News App

Source: Punch Newspapers – Latest News

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

EU, Germany and Nigeria commissions 581kW Solar Mini-Grid to benefit over 10,000 people in Kwara State

More than 10,000 people in Oke-Oyi, Kwara State, are now...

Veronika Vovk Dmytriyivna on confidence, intuition, and the lessons behind her modeling journey

The polished images associated with fashion rarely reveal everything happening behind them. For Veronika Vovk Dmytriyivna, building a career as a model

Euromatch NPFL: Enyimba Halt Winless Run, Rangers Go Top After Victory Over Wolves

Enyimba finally secured their first win of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL, season with a 4-2 victory over Shooting Stars.

Nigeria’s 3-0 Defeat to Guinea-Bissau: Seven key takeaways as Super Eagles lose ground in AFCON Qualifiers

The Super Eagles produced a largely disappointing performance and were punished by a Guinea-Bissau side that showed greater urgency, composure and efficiency in front of goal The post Nigeria’s 3-0 Defeat to Guinea-Bissau: Seven key takeaways as Super Eagles lose ground in AFCON Qualifiers appeared…