UBA Server Hacked, Flour Mills’ N752m Stolen, Bank’s Auditor Tells Court

An auditor with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Ojo Oladimeji,
has told the Federal High Court, Lagos, how suspected fraudsters
hacked into the bank’s server and fraudulently withdrew the sum of
N752 million from the account of the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc,
domiciled with the bank.

Oladimaji made this known while giving evidence in a criminal
charge filed against one of the alleged hackers, Ola Lawal, a.k.a
Lawal Roland, who is standing trial before the court on alleged
fraud of N46 million fraud charge filed against him by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendant was arraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor
alongside his company, DCAN Oil and Gas Limited on Monday, on
two-count charge of fraudulent transfer of the sum of N46 million
from the Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, number 1002792889 domiciled in
United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc to the oil and gas account number
0036695765 domiciled in Union Bank Plc.

The offences he, however, pleaded not guilty, when he was
arraigned before the court on Monday.
At the resumed trial of the the defendant, Oladimeji, who is the
first prosecution witness in the charge told the court that a total
sum of N752 million belonging to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, in his
employer’s account (UBA) was Fraudulently transferred into 20
different accounts, which the defendant’s company’s account with
Union Bank Plc, benefitted the sum of N46 million.

Oladimeji who was led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Mr. M. K.
Hussain, said: “upon discovery that the sum of N752 million has
been fraudulently transferred from one of our customer’s account,
Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, to 20 different accounts, which the
defendant’s company’s account was a beneficiary.

“Flour Mills’ account was hacked between June 24 and July 3,
2019, and the total sum of N752 million was fraudulently
transferred.

“The defendant’s account in Union Bank Plc received N46 million
on July 3. We then wrote a letter to our lawyer, Akin Adesomoju, to
assist us with a petition to the EFCC to assist in investigation,
recovery, arrest and prosecution of the culprits, that was how the
defendant was arrested and charged to court after the EFCC
investigation”.

The witness during cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer,
Ademola Iroko, told the court that he did not knew who transferred
the money and that was why the matter was reported to the EFCC and
that the purpose of the transfer was unknown to him.

Oladimeji also told the court that he did not know the name of
the Account Officer to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, but said his
bank has the record of how the money was transferred to 20
accounts, which the defendant’s company’s account was one of the
beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the defendant and his company have been admitted to
bail by Justice Obiozor, in the sum of N50m each with one surety in
like sum.

The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed
property owner within Lagos State and in addition a level 15
officer, who must produce evidence of three years tax clearance
with verifiable address and must submit their passport photograph
to the Court’s registrar.

Justice Obiozor further ruled that the defendant should be
remanded in Ikoyi prison pending the perfection of his bail
conditions.
The matter has been adjourned till December 12, for continuation of
trial.

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