Banker remanded in prison over N1.3m fraud

A Gombe State Chief Magistrate court sitting at Tumfure quarters in the state metropolis, has remanded a banker in prison custody over alleged cheating and forgery. The accused person, Sammy Habibu who worked with one of the first generation banks, was alleged to have forged signatures of some customers of the bank at different times. […]

A Gombe State Chief Magistrate court sitting at Tumfure quarters in the state metropolis, has remanded a banker in prison custody over alleged cheating and forgery.

The accused person, Sammy Habibu who worked with one of the first generation banks, was alleged to have forged signatures of some customers of the bank at different times.

The banker was alleged to have on January 3, 2018 forged the signature of Hannatu Muhammad and withdrew the sum of N1.070m from her account.

He also on the same date forged the signature of a corporate account belonging to the United Methodists Church, Gombe and withdrawn the sum of N300, 000.

The Police Prosecuting Officer, Inspector Habibu Danjuma told the court that the accused transferred the money to the account of one Sammy B Mailafiya in the same bank.

Inspector Danjuma said the accused person was charged with theft and forgery, offenses contrary to Sections 362 (a) and 95 of the Penal Code Law.

However, when he asked by the court if the information contained in the First Information Report (FIR) was true, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.
In view of the accused plea, the prosecutor applied for a new date to enable police finish investigation.

The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Japhet Maida granted the application and adjourned the case to April 26, 2018 for further hearing.

He also ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.