Three former bank employees – Amina Magaji, Haruna Bulama Namadi and Muhammed Abdullahi (at large) – were on Monday arraigned before Justice Faruk Lawan of the Kano State High Court Kano for defrauding the late Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to the tune of N17 million.
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 monies in bits to the tune of N17,060,000 million, using forged cheques.
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.
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 their applications, citing the gravity of the alleged offence and the fact that the case had been adjourned several times because of the 2nd accused person’s failure to appear before the court.
However, Justice 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 international 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.
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