Victor EzejaTwo fraudsters – Huseini Suleiman ( a.k.a Khalifa Abba) and Umar Yaú – have been convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card fraud by Justices Farouk Lawal Adamu and Abdullahi M. Liman of the Kano State High Court.
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According to a statement signed by the head of media and publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner alleged that they swapped an ATM card belonging to one Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi under the guise of trying to assist the owner whom they met at the ATM branch/site and fraudulently withdrew a total sum of One Million Two Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira (N1,285,000) Only from his bank account
They were convicted and sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to one -count separate charge bordering on cybercrimes.
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The charge against Suleman reads: “That you HUSAINI SULEMAN (A.K.A. KHALIFA ABBA) on 19th September 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank MasterCard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1, 285,000.00 (one million two hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust bank account number: 0020234639 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (B) of Penal Code and punishable under Section 322 of the same code.’’
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Lily Jacob-Duke prayed the court to convict him accordingly. However, defence counsel, Salisu Sulaiman prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict “as he is a first-time offender”.
Consequently, Justice Adamu convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment or a fine of N250,000. In addition, the defendant was ordered to return to school by the court and he was given a period of 2 years to accomplish the task of acquiring a University degree and the officers of the Correctional facility should be put on notice of the order of the court.
The charge against Yau reads “That you UMAR YA’U on 19th September, 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank Mastercard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1,285,000.00 (one million two Hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0020234639 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 33 (1) OF THE CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT, 2015 and punishable under SECTION 33 (1) OF THE SAME ACT.’’
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
Thereafter, Justice Liman convicted and sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with an option of fine of (N100,000) One Hundred Thousand Naira
Also, the EFCC arraigned one Christopher Nduka before Justice Farook Lawal Adamu of the Federal High Court sitting Kano on three- count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretense and issuance of dud cheque.
One of the count charges reads “That you, Christopher Nduka sometime in September,2022 at Kano, Kano State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable court, did obtain the sum of Two Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only (N 2,850,000)belonging to one Tochukwu Obinna Chioke being the payment for the procurement of pharmaceutical products which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud And other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count two reads:
“That you, Christopher Nduka sometime in September, 2022 at Kano, Kano State within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court issued a Cheque of One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N 1,800,000,00) issued in favour of one Chioke Tochukwu Obinna and when presented for payment, returned unpaid for insufficient funds and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(1)(b) of Dishonored Cheques (Offences) Act,
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Counsel for the prosecution, Idris I. Haruna prayed the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the defendant. The defence counsel, P.A. Edamaku prayed the court to admit his client to bail pending the proceeding of the matter.
Justice Lawal consequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000 ((One Million Naira only) and one surety who must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
He adjourned the matter till 27 March 2024 for the commencement of trial.
EFCC said Nduka is a serial fraudster, who had been convicted twice for similar offences. He bagged a fresh conviction when a petitioner alleged that he collected a sum of N2,850,000 under the guise of supplying pharmaceutical products to him but diverted the money for his personal use. To further inflame his troubles, he issued two separate cheques that bounced due to lack of funds in his account.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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