ATM Fraudsters Jailed For Card Swapping Scam In Kano

Two automated teller machine (ATM) card fraudsters, Huseini Suleiman and Umar Yau, have been sentenced to prison terms for defrauding a victim, Abubakar S. Abdullahi, at an ATM stand in Kano State.

The duo were convicted by Justices Farouk L. Adamu and Abdullahi M. Liman of the Kano State High Court for swapping Abdullahi’s ATM card under the guise of assisting him and withdrawing a total of N1.2 million from his account.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the convicts pleaded guilty to separate charges of cybercrime.

The charge against Suleman read: ‘’That you Husaini Suleman (A.K.A Khalifa Abba) on 19th September, 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank MasterCard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1, 285,000.00 (one million two hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust bank account number: 0020234639 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (B) of Penal Code and punishable under Section 322 of the same code.’’

In view of Suleiman’s guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Lily Jacob-Duke prayed the court to convict him accordingly.

However, the defence counsel, Salisu Sulaiman prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict “as he is a first time offender.”

Suleiman was sentenced by Justice Adamu to one year in prison or a fine of N250,000, and was ordered to return to school to obtain a university degree within two years, with the officers of the correctional facility monitoring his progress.

The charge against Yau read: “’That you Umar Ya’u on 19th September, 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank Mastercard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1,285,000.00 (one million two Hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0020234639 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 33 (1) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 33 (1) of the same Act.’’

He was sentenced Justice Liman to three years in prison with an option of a fine of N100,000.