DSS Arraigns Suspected Hacker Over N800m Bank Fraud

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon”, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged cyber-attacks that reportedly led to the diversion of more than N800 million belonging to SunTrust Bank Plc.

 Eze was brought before Justice Friday Ogazi on charges bordering on cybercrime, unlawful access to critical financial infrastructure, conspiracy and alleged money laundering offences. The DSS accused him of hacking into the bank’s computer system, and fraudulently diverting funds into several accounts between 2023 and 2026.

According to the prosecution Counsel, M. Bajela,  the Defendant and others currently at large, allegedly conspired to unlawfully interfere with the operations of SunTrust Bank’s server, thereby disrupting the Bank’s computer system and facilitating the diversion of over N800 million. The Defendant was also accused of concealing and transferring funds, allegedly linked to cyber-attacks on financial institutions.

 The prosecution told the court that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Eze was specifically accused of causing unauthorised access to critical national financial information infrastructure. 

The Defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all the allegations. Following his plea, the DSS Counsel requested a trial date, and urged the court to remand him pending the determination of the charge. Defence Counsel, E. Afrogha, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of her client, adding that he had spent over one month in DSS custody.

Justice Ogazi subse-quently adjourned the matter until August 24, 2026, for hearing of the bail application. The Judge ordered that the Defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) custody pending the determination of his bail request, after the prosecution informed the court that it had not been served with the application.

 The case highlights the growing challenge of cybercrime and financial fraud within Nigeria’s banking sector, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to track individuals accused of exploiting digital systems to commit financial offences. However, Eze remains presumed innocent, until the prosecution proves the allegations against him beyond reasonable doubt.