Court Remands Alleged Hacker Accused of Diverting ₦800m From Suntrust Bank
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 N800 million into multiple accounts.
Eze was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Friday Ogazi by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges bordering on cybercrime, unlawful interference with a financial institution’s computer system, and money laundering.
Prosecuting counsel, M. Bajela, told the court that the defendant, alongside others still at large, allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with Suntrust Bank’s computer system, resulting in the diversion of more than N800 million belonging to the bank.
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The prosecution further alleged that Eze concealed and transferred various sums of money linked to cyberattacks targeting financial institutions and unlawfully gained access to critical national financial information infrastructure.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Sections 5, 6(1), and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20, and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Eze, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him.
Following the plea, Bajela 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, adding that his client had remained in DSS custody for more than one month.
The prosecutor, however, said he had not yet been served with the bail application and noted that the prosecution’s witnesses were ready to proceed with the trial.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter until August 24 for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.
The judge also ordered that Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of his bail request.
One of the charges before the court alleges: “That you, Ugochukwu Eze, alias Amazon, sometime between 2023 and 2026 in Lagos and other places within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully hindered the function of Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system and, in the process, fraudulently diverted over N800 million belonging to the bank.”
The prosecution stated that the alleged offence is punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
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