In a recent development at the Federal High Court in Lagos, an alleged WhatsApp hacker, Stephen Andrew Ojo, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services over N700,000 Fraud.
This action was taken following Ojo’s arraignment by officers from the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
Justice Akintayo Aluko presided over the case, during which Ojo faced charges on four counts, including conspiracy, identity theft, and obtaining by false pretence.
The police prosecutor, Zebedee Arekhandia, presented details indicating that on September 12, 2023, at Ajao Estate, Lagos, Ojo and accomplices conspired to hack the WhatsApp account of Mrs. Laraba Shuaibu.
They then proceeded to impersonate her and utilized the compromised platform to fraudulently obtain the sum of N700,000 from Mrs. Osasu Tina Eriamiatoe.
READ ALSO: Police Apprehend 15 Suspects in Oyo for Looting Christmas Gifts Meant for Ibadan Chiefs
Arekhandia highlighted that these actions violated Sections 8(a) and 1(3)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006. Additionally, they contravened Sections 24 (2)(a)(b) (i)(ii) and (iii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as well as Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, as amended in 2012.
During the proceedings, the defendant pleaded guilty but maintained that he was not the individual responsible for the alleged crimes.
Despite his plea, Justice Aluko, serving as the vacation judge, ordered Ojo’s remand at the Ikoyi centre until January 24, 2024. On this date, the court’s Chief Judge is set to reassign the case file to the substantive judge for further proceedings. #Hacker