The scheduled trial of three staff of Wema Bank Plc and four others accused of hacking into the bank’s server and illegally transferring a staggering N8.568 billion has been stalled due to the Eid-el-Kabir holiday declared by the Federal Government.
The trial, which was to resume on June 6, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, could not proceed as planned. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the accused on May 25 on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and obtaining money under false pretences.
The bank staff—Samuel Asiegbu, Fabian Onyeimachi, and Kingsley Kejim—were charged alongside four others: Hannah Okunlola Adesokan, Hamza Zakariya, Achionu Ubaku, and Sunday Osademe. They all pleaded not guilty.
According to EFCC prosecutor, S.O. Larry Peters, the accused allegedly conspired in January 2025 to manipulate Wema Bank’s internal data systems to fraudulently withdraw over N8.5 billion. The scheme reportedly involved tampering with account records using computer networks.
The EFCC further disclosed that two suspects—Nurudeen Ibrahim and Alhaji Sulaiman—who allegedly masterminded the cyberattack, are still at large. The prosecutor added that part of the stolen funds was funneled into accounts operated by Search Light Media Concept and Osademe Sunday in UBA and Union Bank, with amounts totalling N199 million and N2.25 million respectively.
One of the charges read in court alleged that the defendants conspired to cause the loss of property belonging to Wema Bank and to confer undue economic benefits on themselves, in violation of Section 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Another charge alleged that the suspects knowingly caused the loss of N8.568 billion by altering and inputting fraudulent data into Wema Bank’s systems, contrary to Section 14(1) of the same Act.
Following their plea, Justice Osiagor remanded five of the defendants in the Nigerian Correctional Service, allowed Kingsley Kelechi to continue on existing bail, and approved a defence counsel request for Hannah Okunlola to be held in EFCC custody due to health reasons.
The court adjourned the matter until June 6 for commencement of trial, but the proceedings have now been delayed due to the Sallah holidays. A new trial date is expected to be communicated once court sittings resume.
