CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 20-year-old man, Goodness Chigozie, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oshodi for allegedly hacking into a crypto Trust Wallet account and stealing $3,400 belonging to one Okwara Augustine.
The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate L.A. Owolabi on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful hacking and stealing in Charge No. ML/9/4528/2026.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences alongside others now at large.
According to the charge sheet filed by the Makinde Divisional Headquarters, Mafoluku, Oshodi, the incident occurred on July 28, 2026, at about 8:00 p.m. at Afariogun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, in the Lagos Magisterial District.
The police alleged in Count One that Chigozie and his accomplices conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit stealing, contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
In Count Two, SP Ihkayere alleged that the defendant and others unlawfully hacked/logged into the crypto Trust Wallet account belonging to Okwara Augustine and fraudulently transferred the sum of Three Thousand, Four Hundred United States Dollars ($3,400.00) to a Trust Wallet known only to them, punishable under Section 314(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Count Three alleges that Chigozie stole the sum of $3,400, equivalent to N5,100,000, belonging to the complainant, which was unlawfully transferred from his Trust Wallet app and converted to personal use without his consent.
The prosecution further alleged that the stolen funds were moved through a United Bank for Africa account number 2209874310 bearing Chigozie Mazi, a Soft Tech account number 6117575249 bearing Chigozie Mazi, and an Access Bank account number 1498659286 bearing Temitope Emmanuel Oguntola, contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts after the charges were read to him.
Following his plea, Magistrate Owolabi granted him bail in the sum with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was investigated by ASP Tekeme Tunke of the Makinde Division, Lagos State Police Command.
The matter was adjourned for mention to allow the defence to perfect the bail and for the prosecution to prepare for trial.
Legal analysts note that crypto-related fraud cases are on the rise in Lagos, urging digital asset holders to secure their wallets with strong passwords, two-factor authentication and to never disclose their seed phrases to third parties.
The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.