Female bank chief jailed for forgery, misappropriation

Managing Director of Workman Microfinance Bank, Sarita Aliyu Hello, has been jailed four years on a two-count charge bordering on misappropriation and forgery brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The sentence was handed over to her by Justice M.M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court.

The offence is contrary to Section 308 and 363 and punishable under Section 309 and 364 of the Penal Code Law.

She was said to have sometime in 2020 as the managing director of the microfinance bank, misappropriated the sum of N4,786,700.00 (Four Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira). Using the password of the head, Credit Unit of the bank, she created fictitious names, generated fraudulent loan requests, approved and paid the same to herself.

When confronted with evidence of her crime, she pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The defendant was ordered by the court to pay the sum of N3,786,700 (Three Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira) to the bank through the EFCC.