N1bn theft: Four internet fraudsters docked in Lagos

Four internet fraudsters were on Wednesday docked before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing about one billion naira from First City Monumental Bank (FCMB) customers’ bank accounts. The suspects are; Gideon Olatimeyin (33), Osita Martyns (37), Daramola Samuel Akanji (23) and Abiodun Aina (38) years old. Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku orderded […]

Four internet fraudsters were on Wednesday docked before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing about one billion naira from First City Monumental Bank (FCMB) customers’ bank accounts.

The suspects are; Gideon Olatimeyin (33), Osita Martyns (37), Daramola Samuel Akanji (23) and Abiodun Aina (38) years old.

Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku orderded the defendants to be remanded in prison following their arraignment on four-count charge brought against them by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police.

They were charged for alleged conspiracy, stealing and unauthorised modification of bank’s computer data by increasing the transaction limit.

The offence is punishable under section 287(9)(c), 390,411 and 388 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

They pleaded not guilty to all the count charges.

Part of the charge read: “That you Gideon Olatimeyin M, Osita Martyns M, Daramola Samuel Akanji M and Abiodun Aina M and others at large on March 10, 2018 at Lagos, at the Lagos Magisterial district, did conspired amongst yourself, and did steal the sum of N900,775,757.47 property of various customers of the bank by transferring the funds from their FCMB accounts to various different accounts outside the bank via POS and ATM.”

Also, the police alleged that the defendants on same date and place, with intent to defraud, did gain access to the debit card platform and profile of FCMB bank through the profile of a contact center staff and effect unauthorised modification of the bank computer data by increasing the transaction withdrawal limit.

However, Magistrate Botoku therefore granted them bail in the sum N20 million each, ordered that one of the surety must be a traditional ruler.

She also ordered the defendants to be remanded in Kirikiri prison custody pending the perfection of their bail condition.