The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday, September 14, granted N150 million bail to 47-year-old Ugochukwu Eze, also known as “Amazon,” who is facing trial for hacking SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system and diverting more than N800 million.
Justice Friday Ogazi granted the bail after hearing arguments for and against the application filed by Eze, who had been in custody since his arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court also fixed Thursday, November 19 for trial.
Eze was arraigned on Thursday, August 6, on charges bordering on hacking, conspiracy, cybercrime and the diversion of more than N800 million from SunTrust Bank.
The prosecution, led by Michael Bajela, claimed that Eze and other suspects still at large committed the offences between 2023 and 2026.
According to the prosecution, the suspects interfered with and disrupted the bank’s computer system before fraudulently diverting more than N800 million belonging to the financial institution.
Eze was also accused of concealing and transferring funds linked to cyberattacks on financial institutions, as well as gaining unauthorised access to critical national financial information infrastructure.
However, Eze pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the court ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending further proceedings.
While in custody, the defendant applied for bail, citing health concerns and asking the court to release him on liberal terms.
The DSS opposed the application, arguing that Eze posed a flight risk and should not be released.
In his ruling, however, Justice Ogazi granted bail but attached stringent conditions.
The court ordered that the two sureties must be landlords with landed property valued at not less than N150 million each.
Justice Ogazi also ordered Eze to surrender all his passports and international travel documents to the court.
He was further barred from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s prior permission.
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