Ranmilowo Ojalumo
United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc, has publicly declared that it lost huge sum of N1, 911, 928, 957.18 billion to hackers, between the months of March and June 2020.
UBA Plc stated that the hackers fraudulently transferred the said N1. 911, 928, 957 billion from one of numerous customers’ account to several accounts in other banks.
UBA Plc made the declaration in its counter affidavit filed in defence of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against it by a businessman, who is currently being detained by the men of Nigeria Police, at the instance of UBA Plc’s directives.
The incarcerated businessmen, Milton Ogoin Timi, who is currently in the detention facility of Nigeria Police, in his fundamental rights enforcement suit, told the court that he was arrested since August 5, 2020, at the Ogba, Lagos branch of a commercial bank, where his account domiciled and where he had gone to complaint of his inability to access his account.
He stated that upon his arrest, he was later moved to the UBA Plc branch at Ogunnusi Road, Ogba, Lagos and to some various police formations, which include Area A Command, before finally detained at Ogba Police Division on the order of UBA Plc.
Milton in his suit marked FHC/L/CS/1054/2020, against UBA Plc, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), begged the court to order his immediate and unconditional release from the police custody.
He also demanded for the sum of N5 million as damages for his unlawful arrest, detention, harassment and torture since August 5, 2020. An order restraining UBA Plc, its agents and privies from further harassing, arresting and detaining him. And an order restraining the bank from and the police from taking an action against him until the determination of his suit against UBA.
Milton, a Delta State businessman who based Delta State, told the court that the suit against UBA Plc and IGP is brought pursuant to Order 2, Rules 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the fundamental rights suit (enforcement procedure) Rules 2009: Sections 34(1)(a); 35; 41; 42(1)(2) ; 46(1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009.
However, UBA Plc in its counter-affidavit deposed to filed and argued by one Muktar Kolawole Sulaiman, denied that the businessman is not its customer and was not responsible for his arrest and detention by the police.
Parts of the deponent’s averments read as follows; “that I know as fact that a huge of money to the tune of N1,911,928,957.18 (One billion, Nine hindered and eleven million, nine hundred twenty-eight thousand, nine hundred and fifty-seven Naira, eighteen kobo, was fraudulently transferred from UBA Plc customer’s account number 1015872219 to some individuals accounts between March and June 2020.
“That I know as a fact that further investigation by the police revealed that that applicant herein is a beneficiary of the proceeds of the fraudulent transfer to the tune of N5 million. And that the police through the office of the Inspector-General of Police subsequently applied for and obtained a “Bankers Order”, placing restrictions on the identified account including that of the applicant.
“That the police then wrote the affected banks in whose customers’ accounts that already dissipated monies were discovered, notifying that of the Court order, while also asking them for compliance with the contents thereof”.
However, Justice Nicolas Oweibo, after taken arguments from the lawyer to the incarcerated businessman, Onwuka Ogbu, UBA Plc’s counsel, Muktair Sule and Mr. Innocent Anyigor who represented the IGP ordered immediate and unconditional release of the businessman from police custody.
Justice Oweibo based his order on the failure of the police to show course why the businessman was detained in the custody.
