I got N10 million from the deal – Suspect
The Head of ATM operations at the Daura branch of Access Bank in Katsina State has confessed to conspiring with a colleague to steal about N18 million belonging to a customer, the Katsina Police Command said on Wednesday.
“I primed an ATM card for a colleague and friend of mine, and he said N18 million was the dividend from the bank, of which he sent me N10 million,” the suspect, Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, said when the police paraded him along with others for sundry offences at the Katsina Police Headquarters.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, explained that the arrest followed a complaint from an Assistant Head of Operations at Access Bank Daura branch “on a suspected case of fraud against one Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, age 28, the Head of ATM at Access Bank Daura.
“The suspect criminally conspired with a friend, one David Mesioye, a staff of Access Bank Kafur branch, now at large, to steal the sum of ₦18,160,000.00 from a customer’s bank account.
“The suspects used their expertise of the bank’s operations to carry out the theft, which was discovered during an audit.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence as the following exhibits were recovered from him: the sum of ₦10,180,000.00 from his different bank accounts, physical cash of ₦366,900.00, and other valuables.
“The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”
In a related development, the police also paraded another suspect, said to be a notorious fraudster, with 14 stolen ATM cards from various banks.
According to the PPRO, “on 25th November 2024, at about 1130 hrs, the Command succeeded in arresting one Bishir Abdullahi, age 37, of Helele quarters, Sokoto State, a suspected notorious fraudster who specialised in swapping ATM cards of unsuspecting members of the public at ATM points.
He was found in possession of 14 stolen ATM cards.
“The suspect was arrested by Inspector Aliyu Muhammad, a police officer on duty at the First Bank branch of Tudun Katsira quarters in Katsina metropolis. He was arrested after the police officer on duty became suspicious of his activities around the ATM machine.
“Upon instant search, 14 suspected stolen ATM cards of different banks were found in his possession.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had been using the stolen ATM cards to withdraw sums of money from his victims’ accounts.
“The total amount withdrawn by the suspect from the victims’ accounts is ₦2,705,000.00. The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”
The Sun Nigeria
