The princely amount of N46 million in the dormant bank account of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, was simply irresistible for the young female banker.
So the suspect, Amina Magaji, was prepared to risk everything to reactivate the account and convert part of the balance there in to her use. The account was said to have been opened in 1967 but went dormant later. The suspect allegedly applied for a cheque book, got it and began to operate the account. By the time the bubble burst, she had, according to a source, withdrawn N17million from the account. Amina, alongside 12 other staffers of the old generation bank, is answering questions from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the alleged fraud.
The suspect is allegedly married to a senior staff of a broadcast organisation.
Amina, believed to be in her late 30s, allegedly began systematic withdrawal from the monarch’s account since 2011 before she ran out of luck when her boss discovered discrepancies in the Emir’s signature.
An EFCC source disclosed that the suspected fraudster requested for a cheque book purportedly on the order of Bayero which the bank obliged her, but, unknown to other bank officials, the cheque book remained in her custody.
She consequently used the cheque to make withdrawals from the monarch’s account.
Bank sources revealed that Amina within the last four years withdrew N17 million from the Emir’s account before the scam blew open.
The EFCC source said the matter was reported to the anti graft agency for appropriate action, stressing that “consequent upon that, we invited and quizzed 12 staffers closely related to the account”.
An EFCC operative, who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity, revealed that “preliminary investigations indicate that many of them have case to answer as we are able to establish conspiracy and negligence on the part of those connected with the monitoring and control of the bank account in question”.
It was learnt that “the bank has raised the alleged stolen money through the 12 staffers quizzed by the EFCC and returned same to the Emir while the principal suspect has been fired as part of measures adopted by the bank to restore confidence.”.
In the meantime, the principal suspect is said to be cooling her feet in the EFCC custody pending the completion of investigation into the case.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajeren, confirmed the story; but refused to go any further.
46million!! In a dormant accnt! The emir may had forgotten about this mony self, though what d banker did was bad but haba! The Emir could have created employment or job opportunities with this money now rather than just forgetting it with the bank God knows how many years. If Adenuga n Dangote had decided to lock their mony up where will most of the employees with their company be now? please the rich,the looters or whatever, set up something! Start something, create jobs build an organisation at least we will know that though uve looted once bt u are now giving back to the society u looted and that's fair than just looting keep the mony in the bank and then invest in another country.
ReplyDeleteAmina;What's is ur problem?don caused wahala 4 u & ur fmly wo;Bankers b vigilant.
ReplyDeleteAmina, u Don chop money, now u go chop beans.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the EMIR doing with such amount of money? D one that abacha looted and kept in swiss bank, the children can not lay hold of the money, so what's the essence of such money.
ReplyDeletethis is it jonathan falt?
ReplyDeleteIdeally, some banks would treat dormant account as "gone."
ReplyDeleteTruly someone should clarify me what is the Emir doing to have such money. 46Million Naira. God Save Nigeria
ReplyDelete