Crimes

N212.4m fraud: Reps member, 4 bank officials know fate June 15

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, on Tuesday, May 16, reserved judgement in the case of alleged N212.4 million fraud involving a member of the House of Representatives representing Mashi Dutsi Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Mansur Ali Mashi, for June 15 and 16, 2023.

Mashi is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining a loan facility to the tune of N212.4 million from Sterling Bank using fictitious companies.

The lawmaker was arraigned alongside four bank officials – Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu, Muazu Abdu, and Hassan Usman (deceased).

One of the charges read: “That you Auwulu Hamza being regional manager of Sterling bank, North Western region on or about the 28th July 2008 in Katsina within the judicial division of the Federal High Court did knowingly approved a loan of twenty-five million naira (N25,000,000) to one Mansur Ali Mashi (through a false and fictitious account name, Faskari Local Education Authority with account number 136285) which is above your approval limit by splitting it into five separate customer credit request contrary to accepted practice and Sterling bank regulation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1)(b) and punishable under s. 16(1)(a) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) And Financial Malpractices in Banks Act.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty as the matter consequently proceeded to trial.

In the course of trial, the prosecution called six witnesses.

In Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the parties, Douglas I. Gift for the prosecution and A.D Umar for the defendants, adopted their final written addresses.

The presiding judge, Justice Sale Shuaibu, therefore, adjourned the matter till June 15 and 16, 2023, for judgement.

The Star