The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned five individuals before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly hacking into the server of Premium Trust Bank.

The defendants include the bank’s e-payment service manager, Matthew Adeniyi; a nursing mother, Kehinde Odeyemi; along with Samson Latshin, Bolaji Omotosho, and Sunday Okunnola.

They are facing a six-count charge before Justice Alexander Owoeye, involving conspiracy, cybercrime, and unlawful access to the bank’s database.

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All five pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the alleged offences occurred between April and May this year. She said the accused persons acted in concert with three others who are still at large—Isa Ismaila, Victor Joshua (alias “Oracle”), and another identified only as Humble.

According to the EFCC, Adeniyi, the first defendant, allegedly disclosed confidential credentials such as the bank’s server IP and domain information, which enabled unauthorized access to Premium Trust Bank’s internal database. The breach reportedly led to a $10,000 financial benefit for the accused.

The prosecution also accused the defendants of attempting to intercept the bank’s network and of using a Hewlett-Packard ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G) that had been configured to bypass the bank’s cybersecurity protocols.

The offences are said to be in violation of sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

Following their pleas, the prosecutor requested a trial date and asked that the accused be remanded in custody. The court denied an oral application for bail by the defence counsel, instructing them to file a formal bail application instead.

Justice Owoeye subsequently adjourned the case until June 30 for trial and ordered that the defendants be held at the Nigerian Correctional Centre until their bail applications are determined. He, however, noted that an earlier trial date could be considered if the defence files the required applications promptly.

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