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Nigeria hunts bank worker over massive cyber fraud

Lagos - Nigeria's anti-graft agency said it was hunting a 38-year-old bank worker on Wednesday for allegedly stealing $38m from his employers by hacking into computer systems.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Godswill Oyegwa Uyoyou allegedly conspired with others to steal 6.28 billion naira ($38m) from the Abuja office of a commercial bank.

"As an IT staff, he used his knowledge of the bank's database to perpetrate the scam," said EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren in Lagos.

"We are still on the trail of those involved in the fraud."

The money was electronically transferred to accounts held by Uyoyou's alleged accomplices on Saturday when the bank, which has not been identified, was closed for business, Uwujaren said.

Nigeria has an unenviable reputation for financial and cyber fraud.

The EFCC was set up in 2003 to crack down on so-called "419" scams, whereby unsuspecting victims are tricked into handing over bank account details online.

The agency also handles claims of government corruption.

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