Plea Bargain Delays Trial of FCMB Staff Over $25,000 Cyber Fraud.

 

Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned further proceedings in the criminal case involving First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc’s Service Administrator, Gideon Bakpa Aghogho, and a former staff member of the bank, Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, over an alleged $25,000 cyber fraud.

Justice Ogazi fixed September 9, 2026, for further proceedings after lawyers informed the court that discussions between the defendants and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a proposed plea bargain agreement were yet to be concluded.

The EFCC had, on August 19, 2026, arraigned Aghogho and Chukwuebuka before the court on charges bordering on conspiracy, cybercrimes, unauthorised access to a computer system and fraud.

At their arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, alleged that the defendants, alongside one Scott, who is said to be at large, committed the offences between July 24 and 26, 2026.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants conspired to unlawfully gain access to FCMB’s server and fraudulently remove $25,000 from the bank’s system.

Buhari-Bala alleged that Aghogho, who was a Service Administrator of the bank, was approached by Chukwuebuka and unlawfully released his access code to the FCMB system through the local Administrative Credential (ITSD). The credential was allegedly used by other persons to gain access to the bank’s Virtual Centre Platform.

She further alleged that after the fraudulent transaction was completed, Aghogho received $2,000, while Chukwuebuka allegedly benefited to the tune of $400.

The EFCC said the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, as well as relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

While Aghogho pleaded not guilty to the allegations, Chukwuebuka pleaded guilty to the charges. Following the submissions of their lawyers, N. Egah and Livingstone Madu, the defendants were remanded in custody as their lawyers indicated that they were exploring a plea bargain with the prosecution.

The prosecution had, however, initially disputed the claim that a plea bargain arrangement was being discussed.

At the resumed proceedings on Thursday, the substantive prosecutor was absent from court due to the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference and was represented by Favour Orilade.

Counsel to the defendants informed the court that they were yet to receive any communication from the EFCC on the outcome of the proposed plea bargain discussions.

In response, Orilade told the court that although the substantive prosecutor was unavailable, the court could proceed to convict Chukwuebuka, who had already pleaded guilty to the charges.

The defence lawyers, however, urged the court to grant them more time to ascertain the outcome of the plea bargain negotiations before taking further steps in the matter.

Justice Ogazi, after listening to the submissions, adjourned the case until September 9, 2026, for further proceedings.

One of the charges alleged that Aghogho and Chukwuebuka, alongside Scott, conspired between July 24 and 26, 2026, in Lagos to unlawfully supply and use Aghogho’s access code to the FCMB system through the local Administrative Credential, with the intention of gaining access to the bank’s Virtual Centre Platform.

Another count alleged that Aghogho, between April and May 2025, knowingly and without authority disclosed access credentials, including the bank’s server IP and domain credentials, to facilitate access to FCMB’s database for a financial benefit of $15,000.

Similarly, the EFCC alleged that Chukwuebuka, during the same period, knowingly and without authority disclosed access credentials to facilitate access to the bank’s database for a financial benefit of $10,000.

The commission further alleged that Aghogho, on or about July 26, 2026, retained $2,000, which he allegedly knew or ought reasonably to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act. Chukwuebuka was similarly accused of retaining $400 from the alleged proceeds.

The defendants remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.