Student, Propietor Remanded For Alleged N1.9billion MTN Cyber Fraud
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded two students, Timothy Fashina Oluwabukola and Anthony Imonina Odemerho, who allegedly hacked into MTN Nigeria’s system, stealing airtime and data valued at N1.9 billion. Oluwabukola is a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Odemerho is the proprietor of Resign Regal Academy in Benin City, Edo State.
The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police, Ikoyi, Lagos arraigned the accused. Prosecutor Justine Enang stated that the defendants accessed MTN’s Application Programming Interface (API) and unlawfully obtained airtime and data, defrauding the company of N1.9 billion. The charges include conspiracy, unauthorized access to the company’s API, and unlawful conversion.
The alleged offenses occurred in Lagos and Edo States between January and April 2024. The prosecutor claimed the acts contravened multiple sections of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge. The prosecutor requested a trial date and that the defendants be remanded in custody. The defense lawyer mentioned that bail applications had been filed and served on the prosecutor, who asked for time to respond. Consequently, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to August 5 for the bail hearing.
The charges against the defendants outline their alleged unauthorized access to MTN’s computer system, manipulation of authorization keys, and the subsequent conversion of airtime to data, which was sold for personal gain, causing significant financial loss to MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
