Man faces trial for concealing 2,863 ATM cards in noodles

For concealing 2,863 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards in parks of Noodles, one Ishaq Abubakar was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice P.O. Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Abubakar on an 11-count charge bordering on cybercrimes.

The suspect was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on August 22, 2020 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on his way to Dubai with 2,863 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards carefully concealed in parks of noodles.

He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC on Thursday, September 10, 2020 by the Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, NCS, Abudulmumuni Bako, for further investigation and prosecution.

Investigation revealed that 10 of the 2,863 ATM cards were stolen, as the owners had confirmed losing their cards, which were found in his possession.

It was further revealed that the remaining ATM cards were handed over to him by some persons in Kano for onward delivery to their contacts in Dubai for monetary benefits.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Abubakar Ishaq, on or about 22nd August, 2020 at Lagos, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, received and retained in your possession 10 ATM cards issued in the card holders, which cards you knew were taken or retained under circumstances which constitute card theft and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under  Section 34 of cybercrimes( Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.”

Another count reads: “That you, Abubakar Ishaq, on or about 22nd August , 2020 at Lagos, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, received an Access Bank ATM card issued to one Alamin Bashir Babuga, which you know or ought to know to have been lost and which you retained possession with intent to traffic it to a person other than the card owner and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(4) of Cybercrimes( Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act , 2015.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, S. Sulaiman, asked that the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Service.

The defense counsel, George Ochima, told the court of a pending application for bail for the defendant.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties in like sum, who must swear to affidavit of means.

One of the sureties is to provide land ownership proof in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 14.

The defendant was also ordered to surrender his travel documents to the court.

The Judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Correctional Centre, Ikoyi pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned to February 18, 2022 for commencement of trial.