EFCC Press Release: N2.055bn Scam: EFCC Arraigns Four for Defrauding Union Bank

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 arraigned Salisu Liman (alias Zico), Isaiah Friday, Azaaior Samuel and Dan Asabe Ibrahim before Justice L.B Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on a three count charge bordering on conspiracy to defraud, contrary to section 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No.11, 2011; unauthorized access to  computer contrary, to section 385 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State of Nigeria, No. 11, 2011 and stealing, contrary to section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No. 11, 2011.

One of the counts read, "Salihu Liman (alias Zico), Isaiah Friday, Azaaior Samuel, Dan Asabe Ibrahim and others (still at large) on or about the 9th January, 2013 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division conspired to defraud Union Bank Plc of N2,055,000,000 (Two Billion and Fifty Five Million Naira) which sum you fraudulently transferred from the General Ledger account of the bank in Jos by hacking into the Bank's database (Flexcube) through Jos Branch of the bank and further transferred the said sum to the accounts of Gona Bureau De change domiciled in Union Bank Head office Branch,  Marina, Lagos; Jaxmine Bureau De change domiciled in Union Bank Head office Branch,  Marina, Lagos; Dankawu Bureau De change domiciled in Moloney Street, Lagos; God’s Will Great Commodity Services, domiciled in Union Bank Annex Branch, Akure Branch; ZHG Services Limited domiciled in Union Bank Head office Annex Branch, Abuja and A and B Console Limited domiciled in Union Bank Agaie Branch, Niger "

When the charges were read to the four accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.  

But counsel to the 1^st accused person, Olawale Akanni informed the court that he had filed a bail application since September 18, 2013 and that the prosecuting counsel was duly served.  Counsel to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons equally informed the court of the dates their bail application were filed and prayed the court to hear the applications.  

Justice Lawal-Akapo, however, adjourned the case to November 26, 2013 for ruling on bail applications and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kirikiri prisons, Lagos.