[News] Nigeria Police bust cyberattack operation on 10 banks, arrest three suspected fraudsters

The Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos State has arrested three suspected internet fraudsters allegedly preparing to carry out cyberattacks on 10 banks in the state.

A statement by the PSFU’s spokesman, Eyitayo Johnson, said the suspects were arrested on March 30, 2022, by the Unit’s Commissioner, Nneka Anyasinti, following credible intelligence information received on the activities of the suspects.

According to Johnson, the suspects were in the final stages of recruiting a worker from the information and technology department of one of the banks in order to perfect the hacking of the bank’s network/posting application with the intent to pull out huge sums of money.

A report by Punch quoted PSFU’s spokesman as saying that the suspects were arrested with incriminating exhibits during a meeting held with a bank worker which they had attempted to recruit. According to the report, the fourth suspect, one Chibuzor Holland, who flew into the country from France specifically for the operation unfortunately escaped arrest.

The statement partly read;

“The arrested members of the syndicate include Kehinde Oladimeji, 52, the mastermind; Olanrewaju Adeshina, 47; and Kolapo Abiodun, 42. Kolapo Abiodun is an ex-staff of the bank attached to the infotech department. He contacted and attempted to recruit a current worker of the bank’s infotech department with an offer of N200m and a visa out of Nigeria.

“The worker was asked to leave critical gateways open on the bank’s server for the syndicate to gain unauthorised access into the network and move money out using Python application and Zoom. After the arrests, forensic analysis of phones and electronic devices found in their possession disclosed a list of 10 other banks already earmarked to be hacked using a similar method once the first attack is successful.

“Operatives also discovered personal and corporate bank account details in the possession of the syndicate which they ought not to have. The case, charge no. FHC/L/238C/2022, is currently being prosecuted before Honourable Justice P.O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, while effort is in top gear to apprehend Chibuzor Holland.”