A Federal High Court in Kano on Monday convicted one Yagana Ibrahim Bukar for stealing N41m from the account of a company, Azman Oil.
Yagana’s conviction was secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency said in a report posted on its Facebook page.
The EFCC said that Yagana was arraigned on October 23, 2013 on a 10-count bordering on forgery and obtaining money under false pretence, an accusation she denied.
The culprit, however, absconded after the first prosecution witness, an employee of Skye Bank, had given evidence in the course of the trial.
Her disappearance forced the court to adjourn the case eight times within one year.
On October 3, 2014, the court issued a forfeiture order on all the attached assets belonging to Yagana, the report said.
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.
On June 9, the prosecution was said to have applied for trial in absentia under Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, a request granted by the court.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had called more witnesses and tendered 11 exhibits.
In his evidence, the investigation officer and second prosecution witness, Hammaadama Bello, informed the court that the nominal complainant, Azman Oil, reported the convict to the commission through a petition.
Bello said that the company had alleged that Yagana, who was its account officer at Skye Bank, stole the N41m from its account.
The witness told the court that the convict used her position as account officer to the complainant to launder N12m out of the N41m.
He said that 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.
