A 28-year-old bank official, Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for the alleged theft of N18 million from a customer through an ATM.

The suspect, an Assistant Operations Officer at a New Generation bank, is accused of conspiring with a friend, David Mesioye, to carry out the theft.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the arrest during a briefing at the Police Headquarters in Katsina on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

The arrest came after a complaint was filed by the victim, Okojie Herbert, who reported the theft to the authorities.

“Following the receipt of a complaint from one Okojie Hubert Erayomon,  m, an Assistant Head of Operation at Bank Daura Branch, on a suspected case of fraud against one Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, m, age 28, of Daura LGA, the Head of ATM at Bank Daura branch, Daura LGA, Katsina,” the PPRO stated.

"The suspect criminally conspired with a friend, one David Mesioye, a staff member of  Bank Kafur Branch, now at large, to steal the sum of eighteen million one hundred and sixty-four thousand naira (₦18,164,000.00) from customer’s bank account.

"The suspect, Head of ATM, who was responsible for managing the bank’s ATM operations at the branch, conspired with his friend to steal the sum of N18 million from the bank. The suspects used their expertise in the bank’s operations to carry out the theft, which was discovered during an audit.

“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence as the following exhibits were recovered from the suspect: the sum of N10,180,000.00k from his different bank accounts. Physical cash of N366,900  and other valuables’’.

“The suspect will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation."