A Kano State High Court has sentenced two men to three years imprisonment each or an option of ₦200,000 fine for hacking into a stolen phone and illegally withdrawing money through mobile banking applications.
The trial, presided over by Justice Faruk Lawan, involved five defendants — Abdulkadir Aminu, Abdulkadir Abdullahi, Saifullahi Salisu, Jibril Yunusa, and Nasir Yunusa — who were arraigned on charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and assault.
According to court records, the men allegedly attacked a woman, Ramlat Usman, assaulted her, and stole her phone, which was later used to siphon funds from her bank accounts.
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After a detailed review of the evidence, the court found the fourth and fifth defendants, Jibril Yunusa and Nasir Yunusa, guilty of aiding robbery and tampering with the stolen device to gain access to the victim’s financial apps.
Justice Lawan, while delivering judgment, sentenced each of them to three years imprisonment or a fine of ₦200,000.
Meanwhile, the trial of the first, second, and third defendants — Aminu, Abdullahi, and Salisu — has been adjourned to December 16, 2025, for further hearing.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s growing resolve to clamp down on cyber-related crimes and digital theft, especially involving banking apps linked to stolen phones.