N1.4B Heist: EFCC Arrests Digital Bank Robber Eyeing Kogi Assembly Seat, Recovers N326M, $610,500 …Accomplice Banker Nabbed at Radisson Blu

Matilda Omonaiye/

A political aspirant, a banker, and another suspect who allegedly stole N1.4Billion from a bank through Internet hacking and cracking have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement from EFCC, the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, was caught with N326 million and $140, 500 cash.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren told NewsmakersNG that Atumeyi, who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022, alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

Also arrested in connection with the fraud is Abdumalik Salau Femi, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the attack on the bank by the syndicate. He was picked up today, November 1, 2022, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos.

Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu where a total of $470,000 USD was recovered.

The arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters who pulled off a heist of N1.4billion.