By Ebitonye Akpodigha
A former banker has been jailed in Kano State for allegedly stealing over N21 million from a microfinance bank in the state.
The convict, identified as Mr Aliyu Suleiman, was brought before a Kano State High Court on September 30, 2014, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on the matter on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki found the suspect guilty of the offence and sentenced him to 195 years imprisonment.
Mr Suleiman, a former staff of Oceanic Bank, which later metamorphosed into Ecobank, was accused stealing over N21 million from Albasu Microfinance Bank, but upon his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to all the count charge brought against him by the EFCC.
In her judgment, Justice Aboki sentenced the convict to serve two years on each of count one to 44 and fine of N300,000 on each. She ruled that where the convict defaults the fine, he is to serve additional six months imprisonment on each count.
She also held that from count 45 to 74, the convict was sentenced to fine of N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment on each count, while on count 75 to 105, he is to pay fine of N200,000 or 12 months imprisonment on each count with the exception of count 97 which appeared to be duplication.
The sentences are to run concurrently and the convict was also ordered to restitute the sum of N14.8 million to the Albasu Community or spend five more years in prison.
The convict was engaged and entrusted by the Albasu Community to take charge of their Microfinance Bank, but while in charge, he violated that trust and siphoned over N21 million by forging signatures of the other signatories to the funds.
