A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has remanded a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” over allegations of hacking into the computer system of SunTrust Bank Plc and diverting more than N800 million into various accounts.
Eze was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Friday Ogazi by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime, money laundering and unauthorised access to critical financial infrastructure.
During the proceedings, counsel to the DSS, M. Bajela, told the court that Eze allegedly conspired with other suspects, who are currently at large, between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with SunTrust Bank’s computer system.
According to the prosecution, the alleged cyber intrusion resulted in the fraudulent diversion of more than N800 million belonging to the bank into several accounts.
The DSS further alleged that Eze concealed and transferred various sums of money connected to cyberattacks on financial institutions.
The prosecution also accused him of unlawfully gaining access to critical national financial information infrastructure, an allegation that the authorities said had implications for the security and integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
The charges were said to have been brought under Sections 5, 6(1) and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, alongside Sections 10, 20 and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the charges were read to him, Eze pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
Following his plea, DSS counsel urged the court to remand the defendant and fix a date for trial, pending the determination of the case.
The court subsequently ordered Eze’s remand as proceedings in the matter continue.
The allegations against the defendant remain unproven. Eze is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
