Emir Of Kano Duped By Female Banker

A large 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according to a source, withdrawn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 Sunday
Vanguard 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.

CKN

.