Sterling Bank Loses N1.2bn After Fraudsters Hacked It’s Server—-An alleged five-man Internet fraudsters, have been arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly hacking into the Sterling Bank Plc’s banking platform and Bance Application, and removed a whooping sum of N1, 257, 536, 572.50 billion.

The alleged five-man Internet fraudsters arraigned before the court on Friday, are: Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu “M” 50; Favour Odey “F” 22; Adekunle Daniel “M” 34; Akachukwu Alagbogu and 28 years old Oguntade Yetunde “F”.

They were before the court by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Barrister Justine Enang, informed the court that all the defendants and others now at large, conspired among themselves and committed the alleged infractions between November 3 and 4, 2024.

To carry out the alleged fraud, Enang told the court that the defendants collaborated with both the internal staff of Sterling Bank and external parties for possible compromise on sensitive data and security system of the bank by using international mobile equipment identity 14984244, IP address 84252.113.3 & 88 transaction.

He informed the court that the alleged acts of the defendants contravened sections 27(1)(b); 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, Read along with section 14(1) of the same Act.

Enang also told the court that the defendants’ act was contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

None of the defendants admitted commiting the allegations, as they all pleaded not guilty to the three counts charge of conspiracy, hacking and unlawful possession and conversation of funds made against them.

Following their not guilty plea, their lawyers moved their bail applications, and urged the court to admit their clients to bail in most liberal terms.

The prosecutor however vehemently opposed the bail applications on the ground that the defendants are flight risk, while also cited several ground while the court should discountenance their bail applications.

Ruling on the on the bail applications, Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening to the parties, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

The judge also ruled that the surety must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa while adjourning the matter to March 13, for trial, ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

The Charges Against The Defendants Read: “That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwy “m”, Favour Odey “f’, Adekunle Daniel “m”, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Division of The Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: internet fraud to the sum of N1, 257, 536, 572.50 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Fifty Kobo) by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024, Read along with section 14(1) of the same Act. 

“That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu “m”, Favour Odey “f’, Adekunle Daniel “m”, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, within the aforementioned Judicial Division of The Federal High Court, did knowingly and without authority cause financial lost to Sterling Bank Plc to the tune of N1, 257, 536, 572. 80 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Fifty Kobo) by suppressing one of the banking platform and Bance Application from their various customers’ account to different fraudulent accounts with the collusion of an internal staff/external parties for possible compromise on sensitive data and security system of the bank by using international mobile equipment identity 14984244, IP address 84252.113.3 & 88 transaction, thereby conferred economic benefits on yourselves by converting the money in question to your own use against the Sterling Bank Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024. 

“That you Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu ‘m’, Favour Odey ‘f, Adekunle Daniel ‘m’, Akachukwu Alagbogu and others now at large, sometimes on the 3rd & 4th November 2024, in Lagos State, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of Federal High Court, Lagos, did directly or indirectly converts or transfers, retains or takes possession or control of funds belonging to Sterling Bank Plc, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is, or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful Act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

How Sterling Bank Uses Tiered Salary Structure to Hold Down Staff Without Promotion—-Sterling Bank’s recent 7% salary increase which was announced earlier this month has been met with widespread criticism and disappointment among its employees, who feel undervalued, overworked, and underappreciated.

According to sources, the bank’s Executive Trainees (ETs) will receive a monthly raise of ₦24,000, from ₦327,000 to ₦351,000, while Senior Executives will receive a monthly raise of ₦27,000, from ₦500,000 to ₦527,000.

Employees have expressed frustration and disappointment with the raise, citing the bank’s failure to keep up with Nigeria’s soaring inflation rate.

In contrast, other banks in the industry have taken a more aggressive approach to salary increases. Union Bank and GTBank raised salaries by 40% in late 2024, in a bid to retain top talent in an industry plagued by high employee turnover and poaching.

Research shows that competitive salaries are key to reducing employee attrition in Nigeria’s banking industry. Sterling Bank’s failure to deliver on this front may have far-reaching consequences for its business.

All attempt to get Sterling Bank’s management to respond as at press time proves abortive, but insiders say that the bank’s leadership is aware of the growing discontent among its employees.