Sterling Bank Limited and its holding company, Sterling Financial Holdings Company, are currently battling a N1.257, 536, 572. 80 billion depositors’ funds which was stolen from the bank by some of its staff.
It was gathered that the staff colluded with some fraudsters to hack the bank’s banking platform and stole the said fund.
The suspects, namely Victor Nwabueze (50), Favour Odey (22), Adekunle Daniel (34), Akachukwu Alagbogu, and Yetunde Oguntade (28)—were arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday.
The group faced a three-count charge of conspiracy, hacking, and money laundering under the Cybercrimes Act and Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
The prosecutor, Barrister Justine Enang, alleges that the suspects, in collaboration with internal staff of Sterling Bank, breached sensitive systems between November 3 and 4, 2024, using compromised data, including IP addresses and mobile equipment identities – 14984244, IP address 84252.113.3 & 88 transaction., to transfer funds to fraudulent accounts.
He informed the court that the alleged acts of the defendants contravened sections 27(1)(b); 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, Read along with section 14(1) of the same Act.
Enang also told the court that the defendants’ act was contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Charges Against The Defendants Read: “That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwy “m”, Favour Odey “f’, Adekunle Daniel “m”, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Division of The Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: internet fraud to the sum of N1, 257, 536, 572.50 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Fifty Kobo) by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, Read along with section 14(1) of the same Act.
“That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu “m”, Favour Odey “f’, Adekunle Daniel “m”, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, within the aforementioned Judicial Division of The Federal High Court, did knowingly and without authority cause financial lost to Sterling Bank Plc to the tune of N1, 257, 536, 572. 80 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Fifty Kobo) by suppressing one of the banking platform and Bance Application from their various customers’ account to different fraudulent accounts with the collusion of an internal staff/external parties for possible compromise on sensitive data and security system of the bank by using international mobile equipment identity 14984244, IP address 84252.113.3 & 88 transaction, thereby conferred economic benefits on yourselves by converting the money in question to your own use against the Sterling Bank Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024.
“That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu ‘m’, Favour Odey ‘f, Adekunle Daniel ‘m’, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of Federal High Court, Lagos, did directly or indirectly converts or transfers, retains or takes possession or control of funds belonging to Sterling Bank Plc, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is, or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful Act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
While they pleaded not guilty, the prosecution opposed bail, citing the defendants’ potential flight risk.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa eventually granted bail at N50 million each, with one surety who must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
Pending bail fulfillment, the accused were remanded in custody.
The case is adjourned to March 13, 2025, for trial.
Authorities continue to investigate other suspects believed to be at large.
