EFCC Arraigns FCMB Staff, Another Over Alleged Unauthorised Access To Bank Database
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, including a staff member of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged unlawful dealings involving the bank’s access credentials.
The defendants, Gideon Bakpa Aghogho, an FCMB staff member, and Oscar Ebere Chukwuebuka, were arraigned before Justice F.S.N. Ogazi on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unauthorised access to a computer system, unlawful disclosure of access credentials, attempted interception of a network database and retention of proceeds of unlawful acts.
Another individual identified as “Scott” was also named in the charges but remains at large.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC said the case arose from allegations that the defendants supplied and attempted to use credentials capable of granting unauthorised access to FCMB’s database.
The alleged offences contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
EFCC prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, appeared for the commission, while N. Egah represented Aghogho and M. Livingstone represented Chukwuebuka. Patrick Ngbeoma held a watching brief for the nominal complainant.
When the charges were read in court, Aghogho pleaded not guilty, while Chukwuebuka pleaded guilty.
Following Aghogho’s plea, Buhari urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility and requested a date for the commencement of trial.
In Chukwuebuka’s case, the prosecutor asked the court to fix a date for the review of facts following his guilty plea.
Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the matter until August 27, 2026, for review of facts and other proceedings, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre.
According to the charge, Aghogho allegedly supplied his access code to the FCMB system using the local Administrative Credential (ITSD), which the EFCC said was capable of granting access to the bank’s Virtual Centre Platform.
The commission alleged that the credentials were supplied between July 24 and 26, 2026, in Lagos, with the intention of committing an offence.
The EFCC further alleged that between April and May 2025, Aghogho knowingly and without lawful authority disclosed FCMB server IP and domain credentials to facilitate unauthorised access to the bank’s database in exchange for $15,000.
Chukwuebuka was similarly accused of disclosing FCMB server IP and domain credentials for an alleged financial benefit of $10,000. The combined alleged payments amounted to $25,000.
The prosecution also alleged that Aghogho and Chukwuebuka, together with the fugitive suspect, “Scott”, attempted to use an HP Elite laptop assigned to Aghogho by FCMB as a working tool to gain unauthorised access to the bank’s database between July 24 and 26, 2026.
The EFCC further alleged that the trio attempted to intercept FCMB’s network database without authorisation.
The final counts relate to the alleged retention of proceeds of unlawful acts.
According to the charge, Aghogho allegedly retained $2,000 on or about July 26, 2026, while Chukwuebuka allegedly retained $400.
The commission maintained that the defendants reasonably ought to have known that the funds represented proceeds of unlawful acts.
The case has been adjourned until August 27, 2026, for further proceedings.
