A Kaduna-based cybercriminal, Nureedeen Siraj, has been convicted and jailed after hacking into Zenith Bank’s portal and fraudulently stealing ₦3.4 million.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Siraj used a rogue code to breach Zenith Bank’s digital infrastructure in December 2022. He illicitly credited his personal account with ₦3,400,000, triggering an investigation that led to his arrest based on actionable intelligence.
The EFCC arraigned Siraj before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on a one-count charge of theft. The charge read:
“That you, Nureedeen Siraj ‘M’ sometime in December, 2022 in Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly took out of the possession of Zenith Bank Plc the sum of ₦3,400,000.00 into your Zenith Bank account without the bank’s consent, thereby committing theft, an offence contrary to Section 270(1) and punishable under Section 271 of the Penal Code Law, 2017 of Kaduna State.”
Siraj pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecuting counsel, Y.J. Matiyak, urged the court to convict and sentence him, a motion that was not opposed by his defence counsel, Fatima Ustaz.
Justice Isiaka sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment with an option of ₦300,000 fine. The court also ordered Siraj to restitute the stolen ₦3.4 million to Zenith Bank.
The case raises fresh concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s banking sector.
