EFCC Arraigns Three Ex-bankers Over N561m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three former bankers, Rabiu Hassan Dawaki, Abdullahi Umar Rano and Samuel Obende before Justice Dije Aboki of Kano State High Court on 28-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts to the tune of N561 million.

The trio, who were employees of an old generation bank, allegedly received and distributed the funds to all their bank’s cash centres in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

They were said to have betrayed the trust of their employers and conspired to defraud the bank by diverting the said amount for their own use. They were accused of altering figures to show that they made cash deliveries to designated branches whereas the monies were never delivered.

The accused pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, A T Habib, to ask the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

However, Justice Aboki granted bail to Dawaki and Rano for N30 million each and three sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a director in the civil service while the others must be persons with landed properties worth N20 million within the jurisdiction of the court. Besides, the accused persons are to deposit their international passports in the court and must not travel outside the country without the permission of the court.

The case was adjourned to March 16, 17 and 19, for trial and also hearing on the third accused person’s (Obende) bail application.