Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 21, 2026, for the arraignment of four defendants, including a commercial bank, over allegations of unlawfully accessing and disclosing the confidential financial records of a company. Justice Hauwa Yilwa fixed the date on Monday, July 13, 2026, after the Inspector-General of Police informed the court that the defendants would be arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and unauthorised access to banking data.
The defendants are Oluwaseyi Famousa, Paul Oku, Zenith Bank Plc and Yesu-Felix Abosede Alice. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/349/2026, alleged that the defendants, between December 4, 2025 and January 22, 2026, conspired to unlawfully access, obtain, transmit and disclose confidential financial records belonging to Makers Island Company Limited without lawful authority or a court order. The police further alleged that they used electronic communication systems and banking computer infrastructure to access, intercept, alter and disclose the company's confidential financial information, thereby compromising the integrity of its banking records.
When the matter came up on Monday, only the first defendant, Famousa, was present in court. Counsel for the prosecution, F.G. Gabriel, informed the court that all the defendants had been served with the charge except Zenith Bank, which he said would be served before the close of work. Following the prosecution's submission, Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter until July 21 for the defendants to be formally arraigned.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired to commit cybercrime by unlawfully obtaining and transmitting the confidential financial records of Makers Island Company Limited, contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended). The prosecution also accused them of unlawfully accessing confidential bank account statements and electronic records from a secured computer system belonging to Zenith Bank without lawful authority, an offence said to be contrary to Section 6 of the Act.
In another count, the defendants were alleged to have unlawfully intercepted electronic communications relating to the company's banking records while they were in transmission through computer systems without judicial authorisation, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act. The police further alleged that Paul Oku and Yesu-Felix Abosede Alice, acting in concert with others, unlawfully disclosed and transmitted confidential financial records of Makers Island Company Limited to an email address, okupaul@churchofjesuschrist.org, without lawful authority or a court order.
The charge further accused the four defendants of fraudulently obtaining, diverting and manipulating confidential banking information with the intent to secure unlawful gain or cause disadvantage, unlawfully interfering with electronic communications and account-related data, intercepting electronic mail communications, and manipulating the operational access and control of the company's bank account and electronic records. The offences are alleged to be contrary to Sections 6, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).
The case highlights growing concerns over the vulnerability of financial data and the role of banking institutions in safeguarding customer information. The police investigation suggests that the defendants may have exploited internal access to banking systems to obtain and transmit sensitive financial records without authorisation, raising questions about data protection protocols within financial institutions. As the July 21 arraignment date approaches, the case is expected to draw significant attention from the banking and legal communities, given the involvement of a major commercial bank and the nature of the allegations.
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