Court Remands WhatsApp Hacker Over Alleged N700,000 Fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, has ordered the remand of one Stephen Ojo at the Ikoyi centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, over alleged N700,000 fraud.

Ojo was arraigned on Thursday by officers of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos on a four count-charge of conspiracy, identity theft, and obtaining N700,000 by false pretence.

The prosecution counsel, Zebedee Arekhandia, during the arraignment of the defendant, told the court that the suspect and others, now at large, on September 12, 2023, at Ajao Estate, Lagos, conspired among themselves and engaged in identity theft, by hacking the WhatsApp platform of one Laraba Shuaibu, and impersonating her.

Arekhandia also told the court that the alleged hacker and others used the app to fraudulently obtain N700,000 from one Osasu Tina Eriamiatoe.

The prosecutor explained to the court that the money was paid into the defendant’s Union Bank account, and PalmPay account number (9550723433), belonging to one Michael Ijua.

He said the offences contravened the provision of Sections 8(a) and 1(3)(a) and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

They also contravened the provision of Section 24 (2)(a)(b) (i)(ii) and (iii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015; and Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended in 2012.

The defendant, who pleaded guilty, however, told the court that he was not the person that committed the alleged crimes.

Consequently, Justice Akintayo Aluko recorded a ‘not guilty plea’ for him and ordered that he be remanded, till January 24, 2024, when the Chief Judge would reassign his case file.