By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” over allegations of hacking into Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system and diverting more than N800 million.
Eze was arraigned before Justice Friday Ogazi on Thursday by operatives of the Department of State Services over alleged cybercrime and money laundering offences.
The DSS, through its counsel, M. Bajela, told the court that Eze and other suspects still at large allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to interfere unlawfully with the bank’s computer system.
The prosecution alleged that the scheme resulted in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to Suntrust Bank into several accounts.
Bajela further accused the defendant of concealing and transferring funds allegedly connected to cyberattacks on financial institutions. He also alleged that Eze unlawfully accessed critical national financial information infrastructure.
The prosecution said the alleged offences violated 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 the charges.
After the plea, the DSS asked the court to schedule the matter for trial and remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.
Defence counsel, E. Afrogha, told the court that a bail application had already been filed. He also informed the court that Eze had spent more than one month in DSS custody.
Bajela responded that the prosecution had not received the bail application. He added that the prosecution’s witnesses were prepared to testify.
Justice Ogazi subsequently 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 pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
One of the charges against the defendant reads:
“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 N800m belonging to the bank,”
The prosecution said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
The case was adjourned to August 24 for the court to consider the defendant’s request for bail.
