FCMB Staff, Accomplice Arraigned Over Alleged Cybercrime

A First City Monument Bank (FCMB) staff member, Gideon Bakpa Aghogho, and his alleged accomplice, Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, have appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged unlawful dealings involving the bank’s access credentials.

The EFCC arraigned the pair alongside a third suspect identified as “Scott”, who remains at large. The defendants face an eight-count case involving conspiracy, unauthorised computer access, illegal disclosure of credentials, attempted interception of a network database and alleged retention of proceeds from unlawful activities.

The charges relate to the alleged provision and use of FCMB database access credentials and cite provisions of the Cybercrime Act 2015, as amended in 2024, and the Money Laundering Act 2022.

Aghogho pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, while Chukwuebuka pleaded guilty. The prosecution subsequently asked the court to schedule proceedings for both defendants, including a review of facts following Chukwuebuka’s plea.

According to the EFCC, Aghogho allegedly provided an access code connected to FCMB’s system between 24 and 26 July 2026. The agency also accused him of disclosing server IP and domain credentials between April and May 2025 in exchange for $15,000.

Chukwuebuka allegedly disclosed similar credentials for $10,000, while both men and “Scott” were accused of attempting to access the bank’s database using an HP Elite laptop assigned to Aghogho.

The final counts concern alleged retention of unlawful proceeds. The EFCC claimed Aghogho retained $2,000, while Chukwuebuka allegedly retained $400.

Justice F.S.N. Ogazi adjourned the case until 27 August 2026 for further proceedings and ordered that the defendants remain in a correctional centre.

What impact could cases involving alleged misuse of banking credentials have on customer confidence?