EFCC nabs two for defrauding late Kano monarch

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two former bank employees ─ Amina Magaji and Haruna Namadi ─ for defrauding the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to the tune of N17m.

The third suspect, Muhammed Abdullahi, was said to be at large.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that Magaji was appointed the account officer to the late monarch in 2011 to oversee his account domiciled in one of the old generation banks.


He said, “She reactivated the account, which had been dormant for 47 years, and then withdrew the money in bits to the tune of N17, 060,000, using forged cheques.

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

The suspects were arraigned on Monday before Justice Faruk Lawan of the Kano State High Court.

They pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Counsel to the first accused, I.O Francis, and counsel to the second accused, Kabiru Yakubu, filed for bail of their clients.

Lawan granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N2m with one surety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case till May 5 and 6, 2015.