The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned Bashir Abdullahi Mohammed, Oche Ogenyi, Adefila Taofile Kayode, Rabiu Aliko Lawal and Mmadu Mathew before Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on a three count amended charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N466 million.
They were arrested following a petition by Polaris Bank alleging that they hacked into the bank’s system and fraudulently increased the credit balance in one of the customer’s account from N781,000 to N466 million.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charges, prompting EFCC counsel, J. Saidi, to request the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
It would be recalled that the defendants were arraigned on the same offence before Justice P. Mallong of the Federal High Court 2.
The matter was transferred to Justice Abubakar at the instance of the defendants.
Counsel to the first defendant, A. Ashat, pleaded with the court to continue with the earlier bail granted to his client, while Valentine Ajibu, counsel to Ogenyi, Kayode and Mmadu, prayed the court to grant bail to his client, saying the defendants were not able to meet the earlier bail granted to them because of the conditions attached.
Justice Abubakar granted bail to the 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants in the sum of N10 million with two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties must be public servants not below grade level 12, have landed property within Kaduna metropolis with Certificate of Occupancy and to be verified by the court.
The case has been adjourned until February 3, 2020 for hearing.
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