The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” before a Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations that he hacked into the server of SunTrust Bank Plc and fraudulently diverted N800 million into several accounts.

The court has  remanded him in correctional custody pending hearing and determination of his bail application.

Eze was brought before Justice Friday Ogazi on Thursday, August 6, 2026, on a five-count charge bordering on cybercrime, unauthorised access to critical financial infrastructure, and money laundering.

According to the prosecutor, Muhammed Bajela, the defendant and others still at large allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with the bank’s computer system, resulting in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to SunTrust Bank.

The DSS further alleged that Eze concealed and transferred proceeds linked to the alleged cyberattacks through some financial institutions and unlawfully accessed critical national financial information infrastructure.

Bajela maintained that the offences violated Sections 5, 6(1), and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20, and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the charges were read, Eze pleaded not guilty. Based on his plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of a correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, the defence counsel, Ezekiel Afrogha, informed Justice Ogazi that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendant and that he had been in the custody of the DSS for over a month. Responding, the prosecution stated it had not been served with the bail application but added that its witnesses were available to proceed.

Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the case until August 24, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) until his bail request is determined.

One of the counts alleges that Eze, between 2023 and 2026, unlawfully hindered the operation of SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system and fraudulently diverted over N800 million belonging to the bank, an offence punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.History

The SunTrust Bank cyber heist is one of the largest banking fraud cases to be prosecuted in Nigeria in recent years.

The DSS, which has constitutional responsibility for protecting the country’s critical national infrastructure, has been investigating the case for several months.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that the bank’s server was compromised over a three-year period, with funds gradually siphoned into multiple accounts across various financial institutions.

The arrest and arraignment of Eze mark a significant breakthrough in the investigation, but the prosecution has indicated that other suspects remain at large and are being pursued.

The case has drawn attention to the growing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria’s financial sector, where sophisticated hackers have increasingly targeted banks and other financial institutions.

The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, which was enacted to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for combating cybercrime, provides for severe penalties for offences such as unauthorised access to computer systems, data interference, and computer-related fraud.

The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, also criminalises the concealment and transfer of proceeds of crime.

As the case progresses, the court will determine whether the prosecution can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

For now, Ugochukwu Eze, the man known as “Amazon,” remains in custody, with his bail application scheduled to be heard on August 24, 2026.

SunTrust Bank, meanwhile, continues its battle to recover the N800 million allegedly lost to the hackers, a saga that has now moved from the digital realm into the corridors of justice.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has approved the deployment of newly appointed Commissioners of Police to various state commands and strategic formations across Nigeria.

The postings followed the approval of recommendations by the Police Service Commission (PSC) for the appointment of eight Commissioners of Police to fill vacancies created by promotions and strengthen operations in affected commands.

The newly deployed state commissioners are CP Afolabi Wilfred Olutokunbo for Abia State, CP Ayodeji Faniyan for Plateau State, CP Saka Adewale Ajao for Bayelsa State, CP Ajo Geofrey Ordue for Cross River State, CP Nanna Oji Ama for Anambra State, CP Patrick Daaor for Edo State, CP Tani Murtala for Jigawa State and CP Samuel Erale for Delta State.

The Police Service Commission also approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Auwal Mohammed as the new Commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

The IGP also approved the deployment of other senior officers to key police formations and departments.

CP Yemi John Oyeniyi was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence and Training at the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, while CP Charles Ezekwesiri Dike was deployed as Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

CP Aina Adesola was assigned as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration and Department of Training and Development at Force Headquarters, Abuja. CP Uduak Ita Otu was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Human Trafficking at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.

CP Abdullateef Ajape Yusuf was deployed as Commissioner of Police in charge of General Investigation at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, while CP Taiwo A. Adedeji was assigned to head the Counter Terrorism Unit at Force Headquarters.

CP Ajayi Oluyemi was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Human Trafficking at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, while CP Bolanle Aremu was deployed to the Department of Finance and Administration at Force Headquarters.

Other officers were also assigned to roles at the Police Staff College, Jos, Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, and other strategic units.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand in Kuje Correctional Centre of a retired officer of the Department of State Services, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam over his support for the outlawed Indigenous People of Buafra, IPoB.

The retired officer was arraigned by the Department of State Services for, among other things, supporting the proscribed terrorist organization.

He was arraigned on a four-count charge, including joining IPOB, posting messages in support of the proscribed organization, and involvement in acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join IPOB.

The DSS told the court presided over by Justice Muhammed Umar, that what the retired officer did was contrary to and punishable under Sections 13, 25, 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the charges were read out to Ezeakolam, he pleaded “not guilty” to all the four counts. Thereafter, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending trial.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial and ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Count One of the charges brought against Ezeakolam, reads: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Two: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Three: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Four:
“That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended,” the charge said.