Customer Accuses Diamond Bank Worker Of N2.4m Fraud

A resident of Minna in Niger, Mrs. Constance Orisakwe, on Monday, brought a criminal charge against one Yahuza Hassan before a Minna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding her of N2.4m.

This was contained in a charge against Hassan, who is an Account Officer of Diamond bank Plc, Minna.

The charge with case number CMC/DC/CR/78/2016 reads, “Direct criminal complaint of breach of trust by a banker. Forgery contrary to Section 364 and impersonation contrary to Section 179 of Penal Code Cap. 94 Law of Niger State.’’Orisakwe’s lawyer, Mr. Ihemeatulam Gavers, of Lord of Justice Chambers, brought the charge against Hassan.

The writ of summons disposed to by the counsel prayed the court to issue a criminal summons for criminal breach of trust, forgery and impersonation against the suspect.

It said that the suspect managed two accounts with numbers 0060100231 and 0069362645 respectively with the bank. It said the accounts belonged to the complainant who is a trader.

The summons alleged that the suspect fraudulently made withdrawals of a total sum of N2.4m from the complainant’s account without her consent.

It explained that the suspect allegedly introduced internet banking application into the complainant’s respective bank accounts which enabled him to withdraw the money.

The charge said that the bank statement issued to the complainant reveals that the sum of N2, 050, 800.00 was allegedly withdrawn from the account with number 0069362645 between November 9, 2015 and March, 2016.

It also said the sum of N442, 400.00 was allegedly withdrawn from account with number 0060100231 between November 16, 2015 and March 21, 2016 by the suspect.

It alleged that the suspect forged the complainant’s signature for easy withdrawal and put his personal telephone number on the alert form to make it difficult for the complainant to receive alerts of the withdrawals on the accounts.

Similarly, Gavers told journalists that the bank sacked the suspect from work when the alleged fraud was discovered.

Efforts by journalists to speak with the Business Manger of the bank, Mr. Sakilu Bala, on the issue proved abortive as he refused to speak on it.

“What do you people want? You can see that I am on the telephone and after the call I am travelling. So, I will not be able to see you,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State, Bala Elkana, said that the court referred the case to the police for further investigation.

He said, “The case is criminal in nature and we are investigating it.”