Arik Staff Remanded Over Alleged N22m Fraud

A Lagos State Magistrate Court has remanded a 43-year old female staff of Arik Aviation center, Aichetu Abdullahi to Correctional Center at Kirikiri town for allegedly logging into the company’s account and siphoning their money to the tune of N22m.

The incident occurred at a company office in Lagos State, where Aichetu Abdullahi was employed.

According to the police, between October 8, 2012, and June 22, 2024, Abdullahi repeatedly accessed a dormant company account without management’s consent and transferred funds to her personal GTB account.

The fraud came to light during an internal audit when the company discovered the unauthorized withdrawals. The transactions were traced directly to Abdullahi’s bank account, and when confronted, she was unable to deny her involvement.

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The company reported the matter to the Makinde Police Division, prompting an investigation. Abdullahi was subsequently arrested in connection with the fraudulent activities.

Following her arrest, Abdullahi was charged with the alleged crime and brought before the Ogba Magistrate Court to face trial for her actions.

According to the charge sheet, “That you, Aichetu Abdullahi,f on the 8th day of October, 2012 and 22nd day of June, 2024 at about 0900hrs and 1800hrs at Arik Aviation Centre, did fraudulently log into the company’s dormant account severally without the consent of the management and use your Guaranty Trust Bank with account number: 0123209455 to withdraw sum of twenty-two million Naira (N22,000,000.00) and converted the said sum to your own use, property of Arik Aviation Company and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

When the country charges were read to her, she pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector John Iberedem, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, granted her bail in the sum of N1.5m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 20th August, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.