Michael Anan Onimisi, a suspected internet hacker, found himself arraigned before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, following allegations of developing a software code-named “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc of N17,785,010.75.
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Onimisi to justice on October 13, 2023, charging him with six counts related to internet fraud and money laundering. According to the EFCC, the accused developed this software to bypass the bank’s security measures, intending to defraud it.
One of the charges stated that “you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retain the total sum of N17,785,010.75 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.”
During the court hearing, Onimisi pleaded not guilty to all six counts. The prosecution counsel, N. Salele, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre until the trial’s commencement.
The defense counsel, Rabiu Mohammed, informed the court of an application for bail. Salele objected to this, asking for more time to study and respond to the application.
Following a thorough consideration of the arguments presented by both counsels, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter until October 19, 2023, for a hearing on the bail application, and the trial is scheduled to commence on December 6, 2023. The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna.
The trouble for Michael Anan Onimisi began when the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC received a petition from First City Monument Bank Plc, dated June 23, 2023. The bank alleged that the defendant, who is the sole proprietor of Ohoiza Crafts, had hacked into their system and fraudulently withdrawn N17,785,010.75 from the bank’s account, transferring it to his own. The EFCC has now taken action to bring justice to the situation.