Hacker Sweeps N17M from FCMB, Faces Jail

Pat Stevens/

The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Command, on October 13, 2023, arraigned a suspected hacker, Micheal Anan Onimisi, for developing a software code to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc.

This was disclosed in a statement shared on the agency’s X page, formerly Twitter today.

According to the statement, a petition was filed by First City Monument Bank Plc on June 23, 2023, to the EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Command with the allegation that the suspect hacked into their system and fraudulently withdrew N17,785,010.75k from the bank account and transferred it to his account.

The suspect was accused of developing software code, named: “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” to hack into the security measures of the bank.

He was arraigned on six-count charges bordering on internet fraud and money laundering.

The count read in part, “That you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retained the total sum of N17, 785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy-Five Kobo only), from First City Monument Bank Plc, which funds you knew forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d)of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”.

Upon arraignment, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges which prompted the prosecutor, N. Salele, to ask for a trial date.

“In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, N. Salele, asked for a trial date and further prayed the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional Centre before the commencement of trial.

“Meanwhile, defence counsel, Rabiu Mohammed informed the court of an application for bail before the court. Salele objected,  pleading for more time to study and respond to it.

“After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Aikawa thereafter adjourned the matter till  October 19, 2023, for hearing on the bail application and December 6, 2023, for commencement of trial,

“He also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna,” the statement read.

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