An auditor with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Ojo Oladimeji, has told a Federal High Court, Lagos, how suspected fraudsters hacked into the bank’s server and fraudulently withdrew N752 million from the account of the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, domiciled with his bank.
Oladimaji made the revelation on Tuesday, while giving evidence in a criminal charge filed against one of the alleged hackers, Ola Lawal, a.k.a Lawal Roland, who is standing trial on alleged fraud of N46 million, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendant was arraigned before Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor led court alongside his company, DCAN Oil and Gas Limited on Monday, on two counts charge of fraudulent transfer of the same sum of N46 million from the Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, number 1002792889 domiciled in UBA Plc to the oil and gas account number 0036695765 domiciled in Union Bank Plc.
The offences, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, when he was arraigned before the court on Monday.
Justice Obiozor had adjourned till Tuesday, for hearing and determination of the defendant’s bail application and commencement of trial.
At the resumed trial of the defendant, Oladimeji, who is the first Prosecution Witness in the charge told the court that a total sum of N752 million belonging to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, in his employer’s account (UBA) was fraudulently transferred into 20 different account, which the defendant’s company’s account with Union Bank Plc, benefitted the sum of N46 million.
Oladimeji, who was led in evidence by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. M. K. Hussain, said: “Upon discovery that the sum of N752 million has been fraudulently transferred from one of our customer’s account, Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, to 20 different accounts, which the defendant’s company’s account was a beneficiary.
“Flour Mills’ account was hacked between June 24 and July 3, 2019, and the total sum of N752 million was fraudulently transferred.
“The defendant’s account in Union Bank Plc received N46 million on July 3. We then wrote a letter to our lawyer, Akin Adesomoju, to assist us with a petition to the EFCC to assist in investigation, recovery, arrest and prosecution of the culprits, that was how the defendant was arrested and charged to court after the EFCC investigation”.
The witness, during cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Ademola Iroko, told the court that he did not know who transferred the money and that was why the matter was reported to the EFCC and that the purpose of the transfer was unknown to him.
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Oladimeji also told the court that he did not know the name of the Account Officer to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, but said his bank has the record of how the money was transferred to 20 accounts, which the defendant’s company’s account was one of the beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the defendant and his company have been admitted to bail by Justice Obiozor, in the sum of N50m each with one surety in like sum.
The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner within Lagos State and in addition a level 15 officer, who must produced evidence of three years tax clearance with verifiable address and must submit their passport photograph to the Court’s registrar.
Justice Obiozor further ruled that the defendant should be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending the bail conditions.
The matter has been adjourned till December 12, for continuation of trial.
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Before moving the motion for bail, the prosecutor told the court that his agency did not grant administrative bail to the defendant because they could not provide verifiable address and that the defendants are still under investigation for a similar offence.
The charges against the defendants read:
Count One: “That you, Ola Lawal (a.k.a Lawal Roland) and DCAN Oil and Gas Limited on or about 24th June, 2019 in Lagos within me Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently transferred the sum of N 46, 000,60030 (Forty-Six Million Naira) from Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Account Number 1002792889 domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc to DCAN Oil and Gas Limited account number 0036695765 domiciled in Union Bank Plc, which you have known that the funds forms part of unlawful activities an thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 2 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15(2)(3) of the same Act.
Count two: “That you Ola Lawal (a.k.a Lawal Roland) and DCAN Oil and Gas United 24th June, 2019 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Court possession of the sum of N46, 000,000.00 (Forty Six million) which you fraudulently transfered from Flour Mills of Nigeria account number 10027923389 domiciled in United Bank lot domiciled ‘m Union Bank Account Number 0036695755 which you reasonably ought to have known that such fund forms part of proceeds of an unlawful activities and thereby committed an Offence Contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and Punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
