The Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the freeze on 818 bank accounts for an additional 30 days over alleged links to the N10 billion cyberattack on Hope Payment Service Bank.
Justice James Omotosho granted the order on Monday, October 15, 2024, following an ex parte motion filed by the police and authorized by the Inspector General of Police.
818 bank accounts identified in cyber attack
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1358/2024, was filed against James Akagwu Isaac, Akwubo Gosent, and others, including several banks. The IGP’s legal team stated that the accounts used to receive the alleged crime proceeds were under investigation, necessitating the freeze.
In an affidavit deposed by Mohammed Idris, a staff member of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP’s office stated that the Managing Director/Chief Financial Officer of Hope Bank reported a case of criminal diversion of funds and conspiracy against one of the defendants.
Idris revealed that a police investigation confirmed the bank lost N10 billion in the attack. The police chief added that the freezing order had been submitted to the financial institutions involved.