BANKER CHARGED TO COURT FOR FORGING EMIR OF KANO’S CHEQUES

A Kano State High Court yesterday fixed June 12 for the arraignment of a female banker, Amina Magaji, for allegedly defrauding the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. Magaji, who was accused of forging 25 bank cheque leaflets belonging to the emir, sometimes last month, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The defence counsel, Mr Tajuddeen Funsho, urged the court to adjourn the matter in compliance with the Kano State Criminal Procedure Practice Direction, which provides days for the accused to hear charges before proper arraignment in court.
Funsho argued that his client was served on May 14, which is seven days from the date they received the charge from the prosecution. He argued that the matter was not yet ripe for arraignment as such he prayed the court to adjourn the case to allow for all possible avenues that would be detailed. The EFCC counsel, Mr Sa’ad Hannafi, did not object to the request of the adjournment. Presiding judge, Justice Farouk Lawal, granted administrative bail to the accused on the grounds that she would be reporting to EFCC Kano office every Monday before the date of the arraignment.