Ayuba Sanusi
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 13 October 2023, arraigned Michael Anan Onimisi before Justice R.M Aikawa of a Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna for allegedly developing a software code-named: “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” to defraud First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, the sum of Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy-Five Kobo (N17, 785,010.75) only
Onimisi was accused of developing the software to hack into the security measures of the bank in order to defraud it. He was arraigned by Kaduna Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency on six-count charges bordering on internet fraud and money laundering.
One of the counts reads “that you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retained the total sum of Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy-Five Kobo (N17, 785,010.75) only 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”.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, N. Salele, asked for a trial date and further prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, defence counsel, Rabiu Mohammed informed the court of an application for bail pending before the court. Salele objected, pleading for more time to study and respond to it.
After listening to the arguments of both counsel, Justice Aikawa thereafter adjourned the matter till 19 October 2023 for hearing of bail application and 6 December 2023 for commencement of trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna.
Trouble started for the defendant when the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC, received a petition from First City Monument Bank Plc, dated 23 June 2023 alleging that the defendant, sole proprietor of Ohoiza Crafts, hacked into the bank system, and fraudulently withdrew money amounting to N17, 785,010.75 from the account of the bank, and transferred it to his account.
Eighteen-Eleven Media