Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced two men, Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months in prison each over an ₦8.56 billion fraud case.
The conviction and sentencing came after the court ruled that the duo illegally gained access to the computer systems of a new-generation bank. They were first arraigned on May 2, 2025, along with other defendants, on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges against them included conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful access to a computer system—offences contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2011. They initially pleaded not guilty.
However, both defendants changed their plea after amended charges were presented, leading to their conviction and sentencing.
During the review of the facts, prosecution counsel, Muhammad Bashir, called a witness, Airende Monday, an operative of the EFCC, who tendered documents that were admitted as exhibits.
While delivering judgement, Justice Oshodi stated: “I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgement of the court.”
The court jailed them eight months on count one and one year and six months on count two. Both sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants and other persons at large, sometime in January 2025 in Lagos, within the court’s jurisdiction, conspired to transfer and retain criminal proceeds from unauthorised access to Wema Bank’s computer and servers.
