The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought two men before Justice F.N. Ogazi at the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of illegally providing access codes linked to a bank’s database.
Gideon Aghogho and Oscar Chukwuwebuka were arraigned on Thursday on an eight-count charge. They were charged alongside another individual named Scott, who remains at large.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the anti-graft agency noted that the alleged acts violate Sections 27 and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
According to the details on the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that the suspects conspired to utilize Aghogho’s access code to illegally log into the virtual platform of First City Monument Bank with criminal intent.
The charge reads: “That you, GIDEON BAKPA AGHOGHO, OSCAR EBERE CHUKWUEBUKA, along with an individual identified as SCOTT (at large), conspired unlawfully between 24th and 26th July 2026 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by supplying for use the access code of GIDEON BAKPA AGHOGHO to the FCMB system using the local Administrative Credential (ITSD), which is capable of allowing access to the FCMB Virtual Center Platform, with the intention of committing an offence, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 27 and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and punishable under Section 28(2) of the same Act.”
The commission further alleged that between April and May 2025, Aghogho deliberately and without permission shared login details, including the bank’s server IP and domain credentials, to allow unauthorized entry into the database in exchange for 15,000 dollars.
During the arraignment, Aghogho entered a plea of not guilty, whereas Chukwuwebuka pleaded guilty to the charges.
After Aghogho entered his plea, prosecution lawyer Bilkisu Buhari asked the court to schedule a trial date and requested that the first defendant be remanded in a correctional facility. Regarding Chukwuwebuka, the prosecution asked for a date to review the facts of the case in light of his guilty plea.
Justice Ogazi adjourned the case until August 27, 2026, for the review of facts and further hearing. The judge also ordered both defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility pending the next proceedings.
