Three men have been arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly defrauding the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, of N9.188 million.
The suspects were arraigned by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Panti, Yaba, of the Lagos State Police Command before Justice Chuka Obiozor on five-count charges of conspiracy, impersonation, identity theft and fraud.
According to the prosecutor, the three defendants identified as Frank Nwokobia, 27; Ezeoke Kanayochukwu, 25, and Godwin Essien, 28, hacked the Facebook account of the Speaker and retrieved relevant information which they used in withdrawing N9.188 million from his account.
Speaking on their arrest, the prosecutor, William Ologun, informed the court that the defendants were arrested in Delta State after the Speaker petitioned the Police that his Facebook account had been hacked and that N9.188 million had been withdrawn from his account by unknown individuals. The offences, according to the prosecutor, are contrary to Sections 27(1)(b) and 22(2)(b)(ii) of Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2015.
After the charges were read to them, the three suspects pleaded not guilty to the crime committed.
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The defendant’s lawyer, Ali Abba prayed the judge to grant bail to the suspects.
Granting their bail application, Justice Obiozor, admitted the defendants to N5 million bail with one surety each
The judge also stated clearly that the sureties, who must be recommended by the defendants’ lawyer, must be residents of Lagos State, with landed property and three-year tax.
While the bail application will be perfected, the judge also ordered that the three defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi facility of Nigerian Prison Service, pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
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