The CEO of troubled cryptocurrency exchange Patricia, Hanu Fejiro, disclosed to Technext that a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from the Labour Party orchestrated the infamous hack that shook Patricia in February 2022.
While Hanu could not disclose the lawmaker’s identity or constituency, he claimed there is compelling evidence implicating the politician as the ‘gang leader’ of the hacking group.
In a recent conversation, Hanu disclosed that the Honourable member initially denied involvement, but later accepted responsibility, vowing to refund the company.
“We have proof and evidence backing this House of Rep Member and we believe that he would be able to make sizeable recoveries if justice is served as he masterminded theft in the hundreds of millions,” Fejiro said.
This revelation aligns with the Nigerian Police Force’s identification of seven individuals linked to the Patricia hack, with six suspects already in custody.
Quest Times recalls that Patricia and its users faced challenges throughout 2023 after a security breach in 2022, which became public knowledge in May 2023, resulting in a reported loss of N2 billion.
Wilfred Bonse, a 2024 Cross River gubernatorial candidate, was previously arrested in connection to the hack.
Technext’s investigation also revealed that Bonse was accused of benefiting from a cyber fraud scheme involving the Syndicate.
Hanu Fejiro confirmed Bonse’s involvement and noted ongoing investigations into high-ranking officials connected to the hack.
Despite Bonse making a payment of five million naira, Hanu expressed confidence that further arrests would lead to more significant recoveries for affected customers.
However, concerns persist that the implicated House of Reps member, due to their influential position, might struggle to fulfill promises of repaying over 100 million, raising fears of delaying justice and safeguarding personal interests.