EFCC arraigns ex-bankers for defrauding late Ado Bayero

Three former bank employees Amina Magaji, Haruna Bulama Namadi and Muhammed Abdullahi were on Monday arraigned before Faruk Lawan, justice of the Kano state high court Kano for defrauding Ado Bayero, the late emir of Kano, to the tune of N17 million.

A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said that the principal accused person, Magaji, was appointed account officer to the late monarch to oversee his account domiciled in one of the old generation banks in 2011.

“She reactivated the account, which had been dormant for 47 years, and proceeded to withdraw money in bits to the tune of N17 million using forged cheques,” it said.

“She was aided in the fraud by the second accused, Namadi, who was at the time a driver with the bank.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

AFCC added: “Counsel to the 1st accused, I O Francis and counsel to the 2nd accused, kabiru Yakubu filed for bail of their clients. But the prosecution counsel, S H Sa’ad opposed to their applications, citing the gravity of the alleged offence and the fact that the case had been adjourned severally because of the 2nd accused person’s ability to appear before the court.

“However, Lawan granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N2 million and one surety each in like sum. The sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court with Certificate of Occupancy. They must also deposit their passports with the court.

“Moreover, the judge warned the accused persons and their counsel to desist from any act that will further delay the proceedings. He adjourned the case to May 5 and 6, 2015 for commencement of trial.”