{
  "id": 250705,
  "title": "Court remands suspect for bank hacking, diverting N800m",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/court-remands-suspect-for-bank-hacking-diverting-n800m",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T05:23:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/court-remands-suspect-for-bank-hacking-diverting-n800m/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Forty-seven-year-old Ugochukwu Eze, also known as \"Amazon,\" appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, charged with hacking into Suntrust Bank Plc and illegally diverting over N800 million into multiple accounts. The case was brought forth by the Department of State Services, who presented evidence that Eze, along with others, conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully tamper with the bank's computer system. The prosecution alleged that Eze concealed and transferred funds linked to the cyberattacks on financial institutions, and gained unauthorized access to sensitive national financial infrastructure. These alleged offenses violated Sections 5, 6(1), and 8 of the Cybercrimes Act 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20, and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act 2022. Eze pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his counsel requested the court to set a trial date while remanding him in custody. The prosecutor acknowledged that Eze's bail application had already been filed but stated that the prosecution had not been served with it. The judge adjourned the matter to August 24 to hear the bail application, and also ordered Eze to remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until then.",
  "summary": "Ugochukwu Eze, also known as \"Amazon,\" has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on charges of hacking into Suntrust Bank Plc's server and fraudulently diverting N800m into various accounts. The suspect, 47 years old, was represented by the Department of State Services (DSS) and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution alleges that Eze and others conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with the bank's computer system, contravening several laws including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The court has adjourned the matter until August 24 for the hearing of a bail application, during which Eze will remain in custody with the Nigerian Correctional Service.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}