The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of five individuals—including a bank official and a nursing mother—in connection with an alleged cyber attack on the server of Premium Trust Bank.
Arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye, the defendants—Matthew Adeniyi Damilola (E-Payment Service Manager at Premium Trust Bank), Kehinde Odeyemi (a nursing mother of a four-month-old baby), Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunnola—faced a six-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Prosecuting counsel Zeenat B. Atiku told the court that the offences, committed between April and May 2025, involved conspiracy, cybercrime, and unauthorised access to Premium Trust Bank’s internal systems. Damilola allegedly provided confidential server details, including IP addresses and domain credentials, to accomplices who exploited the information to gain unauthorised access to the bank’s database.
Three other suspects—Humble, Isa Ismaila, and Victor Joshua Ilemona (also known as Oracle)—are currently at large.
The EFCC further alleged that the group attempted to compromise the bank’s network using a Hewlett-Packard ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No.. SN#5CD2473N6G), specially configured to bypass the bank’s security protocols. The cyber breach reportedly resulted in an illegal gain of $10,000.
The offences are said to violate several provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, including Sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3), and are punishable under Section 28(2).
All defendants pleaded not guilty. While the defence attempted to secure oral bail, the judge declined and ordered that formal bail applications be submitted. Justice Owoeye adjourned the trial to June 30, 2025, and directed that all five be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. He also permitted the defence to apply for an earlier trial date if necessary.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
