A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of five individuals including a bank manager and a nursing mother for allegedly hacking into the server of Premium Trust Bank.
Among the defendants is Matthew Adeniyi Damilola, the bank’s E-Payment Service Manager, who was arraigned alongside Kehinde Odeyemi (a mother of a four-month-old baby), Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunnola.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the defendant before Justice Alexander Owoeye on a six-count charge bothering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and unlawful access to the bank’s database.
Prosecuting counsel, Zeenat B. Atiku, informed the court that the offences were committed between April and May 2025, allegedly in collaboration with three others Humble, Isa Ismaila, and Victor Joshua Ilemona (a.k.a. Oracle) who are currently at large.
According to the EFCC, Damilola unlawfully disclosed sensitive credentials, including the bank’s server IP and domain details, which enabled unauthorised access to Premium Trust Bank’s database.
The data breach allegedly resulted in financial loss of $10,000 to the bank.
Atiku further alleged that the co-defendants attempted to intercept the bank’s network and procured a Hewlett-Packard ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G) configured to bypass the bank’s security systems.
The prosecution stated that the alleged actions contravene Sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and are punishable under Section 28(2) of the same law.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and sought for an order to remand the defendants in custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre.
Attempt by the defendants’ counsel to move an oral bail application on their behalf was refused by Justice Owoeye who ordered that formal bail applications should be filed.
The matter was then adjourned to June 30, 2025 for trial.
Meanwhile, the defendants were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Owoeye added that the defense may apply for an earlier trial date upon filing their bail applications
