Four persons docked for hacking WAEC website

Four persons were charged to court by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly hacking into the website of the West African Examinations Council.
The suspects – Samuel Onuora, Patrick Nwodo, Effiong Joseph and Chijioke Nwachu – were brought before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 13-count charge bordering on fraud and cyber crime.

According to the prosecuting counsel, Mr P. A. Amadi, the men illegally gained access into WAEC’s website and printed questions meant for the May/June 2017 Secondary School Certificate Examination, and sold same to students.

The offences contravened section 28(3) of the Cyber crime Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015, he said

The four persons were arrested in Uyo, Umuahia, Enugu and Owerri and transferred to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja

They pleaded not guilty to the charge, in view of their ‘not guilty plea,’ Amadi urged that they be remanded in Kuje prison, pending the determination of the case against them.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Christopher Eichie, applied for their bail on the grounds that the offences were bailable and also reminded the court that the defendants had been in police custody for nearly two months.

Justice Dimgba agreed with Eichie’s submission, and admitted the defendants to bail adding that the bail was based on self-recognizance of the defendants’ counsel, and ordered him (counsel) to deposit his Call to Bar certificate with the court.

He also said that the counsel could apply for the certificate each time it was needed.

The judge also ordered the defendants to provide one surety each, who should be either a businessman or a civil servant.

The case was adjourned to October 12 for commencement of trial by the judge