Kaduna court jails former Access Bank staff for stealing funds from Federal Government palliative accounts

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two former bank officials, Obadofin Daniel Bamise and Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu, over theft and illegal withdrawals involving hundreds of customer accounts.

The duo were convicted by Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court after they both pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges of theft.

According to the EFCC, Obadofin, a former Access Bank staff member, unlawfully diverted ₦433,000, while Yakubu was found to have stolen ₦806,000 while also serving in the same bank.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel Moses Arumemi urged the court to convict and impose appropriate punishment.

Justice Bello subsequently sentenced both convicts to seven years imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine.

Investigations revealed that the former bankers manipulated and executed unauthorised withdrawals affecting 305 customers, all beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s palliative scheme.

The total sum traced to the fraudulent transactions was ₦7,842,700, which was allegedly transferred into accounts linked to scheme coordinators.