Court remands suspect for bank hacking, diverting N800m

A Lagos court has arraigned Ugochukwu Eze, 47, also known as “Amazon,” on charges of hacking into Suntrust Bank Plc's server and fraudulently diverting N800 million. The Department of State Services (DSS) brought Eze before Justice Friday Ogazi at the Federal High Court, accusing him and others still at large of conspiring between 2023 and 2026.

According to the prosecution, the defendants unlawfully interfered with the bank's computer system, resulting in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to Suntrust Bank. The charges also include allegations of concealing and transferring funds linked to cyberattacks on financial institutions and gaining unauthorized access to critical national financial information infrastructure.

Eze pleaded not guilty to all charges, which contravene sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. His defense counsel informed the court that a bail application had been filed, noting that Eze has been in DSS custody for over a month.

Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter until August 24 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the determination of his request. The prosecution stated that its witnesses are ready to proceed with the trial.

“

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.