The defendants, both staff of First Marina Trust, were arraigned on a four-counts charge bordering on conspiracy to commit identity theft, impersonation. and Cyber crime.
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Two former employees of First Marina Trust Ltd, Adeyemi Oluwaseun and Suleiman Yusuf were on Thursday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged Identity theft and Cyber Crime.
The defendants were re-arraigned on a four-counts charge bordering on conspiracy to commit identity theft, impersonation. and Cyber crime.
They were first arraigned in June 2018, before Justice (Prof.) Chuka Obiozor and were then granted bail after they had pleaded not guilty. Trial was commenced in the suit.
However, following the transfer of Justice Obiozor from the Lagos division, the matter started afresh and defendants were on Thursday, re-arraigned before a new judge, Justice Tijani Ringim.
However, each of them maintained their earlier plea of not guilty to the charge.
Following a bail application moved by the defence, Justice Ringim allowed the defendants to continue on their earlier bail.
The court then fixed October 17 for continuation of trial.
According to the charge, the prosecutor, Mr Emeka Omenwa, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June, 22, 2016 in Lagos.
He alleged that the duo being employees of the financial institution known as First Marina Trust Ltd, had conspired to steal the identity of one Lanre Ishola.
He further alleged that having the intent to obtain the sum of N14.7 million from the Financial institution, both defendants impersonated the said Lanre Ishola, using a computer system
According to the prosecutor, the defendants also altered the email address of the said Lanre Ishola, from lanreishola@yahoo.com, to lanreishola1@yahoo.com.
He alleged that this was in a bid to make the public act on same as genuine in order for them to achieve their fraudulent aim.
Besides, the anti graft agency told the court that on May 3, 2016, the defendants also altered the email I.D of one Ohamuo Chimezie from chimexohamuo@yahoo.com to chimexohamuo1@yahoo.com, also in a bid to deceive the public.
The prosecution submitted that all the offences contravene the provisions of Sections 13, 22(4), 27(a), and 27(2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention ) Act, 2015.