A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the remand of a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc service administrator and a former bank staff member over allegations that they hacked into the bank’s network and fraudulently removed $25,000.
Justice Friday Ogazi remanded Gideon Bakpa Aghogho, FCMB’s service administrator, and Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, a former staff member of the bank, following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They face charges of conspiracy, cybercrimes and fraud.
Prosecutor Bilikisu Buhari-Bala told the court that the two defendants, acting with one Scott who is still at large, allegedly committed the offences between July 24 and 26, 2026. According to the prosecutor, they conspired and, without authority, gained access to FCMB’s server and removed the sum of $25,000.
Buhari-Bala said Aghogho, approached by Chukwuebuka, unlawfully released his access code to the bank’s system using local administrative credentials (ITSD). The credentials were then used to access the bank’s Virtual Center Platform. After the alleged fraud, Aghogho reportedly received $2,000 while Chukwuebuka received $400.
The offences are said to be contrary to sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and related provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Aghogho denied the allegations. Chukwuebuka admitted the charges and pleaded guilty. Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter to August 27, 2026, for a review of the facts against the second defendant and ordered both men remanded at a Nigerian Correctional Service facility pending the next hearing.
Before the arraignment, defence counsel N. Egah and Livingstone Madu informed the court of their clients’ intention to enter a plea bargain. The prosecutor said she was not aware of any such move.
Parts of the charges allege that the defendants conspired by supplying Aghogho’s access code to enable unauthorised entry into FCMB’s Virtual Center Platform, that access codes including server IP and domain credentials were disclosed for financial benefit, and that the two men retained portions of the proceeds of the alleged unlawful act.
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