Metro
Court grants N1bn bail to 109 foreign nationals arrested over ‘cybercrime’
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the 109 foreign nationals arraigned for high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities that threaten Nigeria’s national security bail.
The court granted them bail to the tune of N1billion.
This is even as the presiding judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, also held that the defendants should produce five sureties to tune of N200 million each, in like sum.
According to the presiding judge, each surety is expected to have a landed property in like sum of N200 million and should deposit their recent passport photograph to the court.
The defendants are also expected to deposit their international passports with the Registrar of the Federal High Court in Maitama.
It would be recalled that the 109 defendants had earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the six-count charge levelled against them but Justice Akpan took a short recess to rule on their bail application filed by their counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN.
Ibom Focus earlier reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered that the 109 foreigners linked to high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities threatening national security be remanded in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities until the next adjourned date (today).
Counsel to some of the defendants, Ogwu Onoja, had told the court that there was need to have interpreters who would be present in court during proceedings for the sake of those who do not understand spoken English.
Counsel to the Brazilian defendants, Eric Oba, also asked the court to separate his clients from other defendants, but the court declined, noting that arraignment had not been done.
After listening to the submission of the lawyers in the suit, the trial judge had adjourned the case to November 29, for arraignment.
The defendants, who were identified as citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, are facing a six-count charge that was entered against them by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to police, the defendants were arrested at a building situated at plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime.
Aside from cybercrime, the defendants were also charged for money laundering and an allegation that they were residing in Nigeria, illegally.
The spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, was left stunned after two suspected drug dealers requested to take a photograph with him shortly after they were arrested and interrogated.
The suspects, identified as Omini Ezeri, 46, and Chinedum Wagbara, 42, were apprehended during a stop-and-search operation while travelling in a Mercedes-Benz ML SUV with registration number AAA 604 JZ along the Agbarho-Warri Road.
A search of the vehicle and its occupants led to the recovery of two Beretta pistols, a substance suspected to be cocaine, and a dagger. The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations continue.
As part of the investigation, Edafe interrogated the suspects. Shortly after the interview, the duo surprised the police spokesperson by asking to take a photograph with him.
In a follow-up post shared on social media, Edafe said he had never encountered such behaviour before, explaining that the suspects appeared to become excited once they realised he intended to interview them.
He added that despite being arrested with cocaine and two pistols, which they claimed were used for their drug business, they still requested to take a picture with him after the interrogation.
The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo in Benue State has confirmed the safe return of its seminarian, Kelvin Ochai, who was abducted by gunmen at Asa III in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Itodo, on Saturday.
Itodo attributed the seminarian’s safe return to divine intervention and the prayers of Christians and well-wishers.
According to the diocese, the seminarian escaped from the custody of his abductors and made his way to Aliade in Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, where he was reunited with his family unharmed.
“Through the prayers of the people of God, Kelvin escaped from the custody of his abductors on the evening of Friday, 31st July, 2026, and made his way to Aliade, Gwer East LGA of Benue State. He has since been safely reunited with his family and is unharmed,” the statement read in part.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, expressed profound gratitude to priests, religious, lay faithful, and people of goodwill for their unwavering support and prayers during the period of the seminarian’s captivity.
The headquarters of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, located in Abuja has been gutted by fire.
The fire was said to have started from the fourth floor of the building.
Speaking to DAILY POST, a personnel of Zenith Bank domiciled in the Mortgage Bank building, Anthony Ameh, said the fire is so intense.
According to him, operatives of the Federal Fire Service, who came to contain the fire have not been able to arrest the situation.
“The fire is so intense. About four trucks of Fire Service are here but they are unable to quench it,” he said.
At the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire incident cannot be ascertained.
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