Court admits two staff of First Bank on bail over N47m fraud

Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo has granted bail on stringent conditions to two staff of First Bank of Nigeria, Nuhu Demba and Mohammed Abdullahi Musa, who allegedly conspired and stole the sum of N47,452,055.45 from the account of one Mailafia Mohammed.

The petitioner, Mohammed, alleged that on 6th February, 2021 he was attacked in his house by armed men, who took away his mobile phone and subsequently, on 8th February, 2021, he reported the incident to First Bank of Nigeria Limited, through the Manager, Dawanu Branch, where he maintains a saving account.

Mohammed said he was advised to continue using his account as nothing would happen.

According to him, on 18th February 2021, he went to the bank to withdraw money and was informed that there was no money in the account.

He subsequently requested for his account statement and discovered that the sum of N47,452,055.45 had been fraudulently withdrawn from the account through the use of ATM Card.

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Investigation, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who is prosecuting the case, revealed that the defendants had allegedly stolen the said monies from the complainant’s account, through ATM and POS withdrawals.

The defendants were said to have perpetrated the fraud by using their positions to obtain ATM Cards without going through due process and without the knowledge of the account holder.

Upon arraignment on the 10th of February, 2022, they pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to February 14th, 2022, for ruling on the bail application.

Justice Sabo granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) each, out of which a cash sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) only, shall be deposited in the court registry.

They are also to provide one surety, each, with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, worth N15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira). The matter has been adjourned till March 23, 2022, for the commencement of trial.