Matilda Omonaiye/
A 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of hacking into the server of SunTrust Bank Plc and fraudulently diverting more than ₦800 million from the financial institution.
Eze was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) before Justice Friday Ogazi on charges bordering on cybercrime, money laundering and unauthorized access to critical national financial information infrastructure.
According to the DSS prosecutor, M. Bajela, the defendant, alongside other suspects still at large, allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully compromise the bank’s computer system, disrupting its operations and diverting over ₦800 million into multiple accounts.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendant concealed and transferred proceeds linked to the alleged cyber attacks on financial institutions, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges stated that Eze unlawfully hindered the functioning of SunTrust Bank’s computer system and fraudulently diverted more than ₦800 million belonging to the bank.
When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, the prosecution urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.
Defence counsel, E. Afrogha, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed, noting that her client had been in DSS custody for more than one month.
However, the prosecution argued that it had not been served with the bail application and maintained that its witnesses were ready to proceed.
After listening to both parties, Justice Ogazi adjourned the case until August 24 for the hearing of the bail application.
The judge also ordered that Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending the hearing and determination of his bail request.
If convicted, the defendant could face penalties under the relevant provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and the Money Laundering Act.
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