The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought Michael Anan Onimisi before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. Onimisi stands accused of developing a software, coded “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve,” with the intent to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc of the sum of N17,785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira, and Seventy-Five Kobo).
Michael Anan Onimisi faces a six-count charge, including allegations of internet fraud and money laundering, stemming from his alleged role in developing a software program aimed at breaching the bank’s security systems for fraudulent purposes.
One of the charges against him reads: “that you, Michael Anan Onimisi, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly retain the total sum of N17,785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Ten Naira, and Seventy-Five Kobo only), from First City Monument Bank Plc, which funds you knew forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Onimisi entered a plea of not guilty to all six counts of the charges brought against him.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, N. Salele, requested a trial date and urged the court to detain the defendant at a Correctional Center pending the commencement of the trial.
In response, the defense counsel, Rabiu Mohammed, informed the court of an application for bail. Salele objected, seeking more time to review and respond to the bail application.
After considering the arguments presented by both counsels, Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to October 19, 2023, to address the bail application and set December 6, 2023, for the commencement of the trial. He also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Center in Kaduna.
The legal predicament of the defendant began when the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC received a petition from First City Monument Bank Plc, dated June 23, 2023. The bank’s petition alleged that the defendant, who operates as the sole proprietor of Ohoiza Crafts, had unlawfully infiltrated the bank’s system, resulting in the fraudulent withdrawal of N17,785,010.75 from the bank’s account, with the funds subsequently being transferred to his own account. The EFCC has been diligent in its pursuit of justice in this case, bringing Onimisi before the court to answer for the alleged cybercrime activities.
