Court in Kano on Monday convicted one Yagana Ibrahim Bukar for stealing N41 million from the account of a company, Azman Oil.
Yagana’s conviction was secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission said in a report posted on its Facebook page.
According to the report, the convict was arraigned on Oct. 23, 2013 on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining money under false pretense, an accusation she denied. But after the first prosecution witness and employee of Skye Bank had given evidence in the course of the trial, the convict was said to have absconded.
Consequently, the case suffered eight adjournments within one year following the EFCC’s inability to apprehend her. On Oct. 3, 2014, the court issued a forfeiture order on all the attached assets belonging to Yagana
It listed the assets to include money stashed in different bank accounts, a Honda Accord car marked BD 496 NSR and a shop with goods situated at Badawa Layout, Kano.
The company had alleged that Yagana, who was its account officer, stole the N41 million from its account. witness told the court that the convict used her position as account officer to the complainant to launder N12 million out of the N41 million. According to him, Yagana perpetrated the scam by posting the amount into Skye Bank accounts belonging to her family members. He identified the family members as Hajja Fanna, her sister; Grema Ibrahim Bukar, her brother, and Ummu Kulthum, her child. Bello said the convict also used part of the money to set up a provision shop in Kawo Area of Kano to further conceal the origin of the loot.
The officer also revealed that Yagana doctored an account statement, which she often presented to the complainant almost on monthly basis. According to him, the convict is awaiting arraignment in the Kano State High Court in a similar case. In his judgment, Justice Fatu Riman held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found Yagana guilty as charged.
He based the decision on Section 352(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and reserved sentencing till Jan. 30, 2017.
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