The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted bail to 47-year-old Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” who is standing trial over allegations that he unlawfully accessed SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system and diverted more than ₦800 million belonging to the financial institution.Crime & Justice
Justice Friday Ogazi granted Eze bail on Monday in the sum of ₦150 million with two sureties in like sum, after considering an application filed by the defendant while in custody. Eze was arraigned by the State Security Service (SSS) on August 6, 2026, in Charge No. FHC/LAG/CR/539/2026 on charges bordering on conspiracy, cyber-fraud, unlawful access to critical financial infrastructure and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, Eze and other persons who remain at large allegedly committed the offences between 2023 and 2026 in Lagos and other locations within the jurisdiction of the court. LegalProsecuting counsel, Michael Bajela, alleged that Eze and his purported accomplices conspired to unlawfully interfere with SunTrust Bank’s computer system, resulting in the alleged diversion of more than ₦800 million belonging to the bank.Crime & Justice
The prosecution further accused Eze of concealing and transferring sums of money allegedly linked to unlawful cyberattacks on financial institutions, as well as obtaining unauthorised access to what it described as vital national financial information infrastructure.
The SSS said the alleged offences contravened Sections 5, 6(1) and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20 and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Eze pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned, after which the court ordered his remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending further proceedings.While in custody, the defendant applied for bail, asking the court to release him partly on health grounds and on favourable terms.Courts & Judiciary
The SSS opposed the application, arguing, among other grounds, that Eze posed a flight risk.
In his ruling, however, Justice Ogazi granted the defendant bail but imposed stringent conditions.
The court ordered that each of the two sureties must own property valued at not less than ₦150 million and provide evidence of three years’ tax payments.
Justice Ogazi also directed that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15 or its equivalent in either the Lagos State Civil Service, Federal Civil Service or a federal government agency. The civil servant must reside in Lagos State, with the address subject to verification by the court.Legal
As an additional condition, the judge ordered Eze to surrender all passports and other international travel documents in his possession and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s prior permission.
One of the counts against Eze alleges that between 2023 and 2026, he unlawfully and seriously hindered the functioning of SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system and, in the process, fraudulently diverted more than ₦800 million belonging to the bank.
The prosecution said the alleged act constitutes an offence under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
The allegations against Eze remain unproven, and he is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty by the court.