Lagos speaker loses N9.2m to Facebook hackers

The men, Frank Nwokobia, 27, Ezeoke Kanayochukwu, 25, and Godwin Essien, 28, were charged by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba,of the Nigerian Police Force.

The police said the three men conspired to hack the Facebook account of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and also gained access to his account at Guaranty Trust Bank, where they stole his N9, 188,100.

The men, arrested in Delta state, were all arraigned before Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor, on five count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, and theft.

The Police prosecutor Barrister Williams Olu Ologun informed the court that the three accused were arrested in Delta State, after Obasa, petitioned the police that his Facebook account had been hacked into and that the sum of N9.188,100 million had been withdrawn from his account by unidentified individuals.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to sections 27(1)(b) and 22(2)(b)(ii) of Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2015.

The three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon their pleas of not-guilty, their lawyer, Mr. Ali Abba,urged the court to admit them to bail in liberal terms,as they have credible sureties, and that they will always attend court for their trial.

Justice Chuka Obiozor, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety each.

The surety must be recommended by their lawyer,who must be resident of Lagos State, with landed property and three year tax payment.

The judge also stated that the property title documents and tax payment must be verified by the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR).

Thereafter, Justice Obiozor ordered that the three accused be remanded in the prison custody ,pending the perfection of their bail conditions.