Court Sentence 3 Youth For Smuggling Of ATM Cards

The Kano State High Court presided over by Honorable Justice Tanimu Shehu today December 20th convicted and sentenced three ATM cards smugglers to six months imprisonment each on a three separate count charges.

The suspects Abdullahi Usman, Musa Abubakar and Abdulwahid Auwalu were arrested by the operatives of Commission between 24th of November and 1st of December 2021.

Upon their arrest, it was discovered that Musa Abubakar who was on his way to Dubai UAE had concealed 714 ATM cards while Abdullahi Usman was heading to Saudi Arabia and had in his possession 298 ATM cards.

Abdulwahid on the other hand was arrested with 132 ATM cards while trying to board Ethiopian Airlines to Istanbul Turkey.

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their separate charges when it was read to them.

Consequently, Counsel for the prosecution Usman Shehu asked the court to convict them accordingly.
After listening to plea for mercy from the defense counsel A.M Bashir, Justice Shehu convicted the defendants and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each or pay a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only.

The charge against Musa Abubakar read “That you MUSA ABUBAKAR UMAR on or about 24th November, 2021 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Kano State, while trying to board a plane scheduled for Lagos, did commit an offence to wit; retain possession of 714 (Seven Hundred and Fourteen) Automated Teller Machine
(ATM) Cards of Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith, Sterling, Access, Stanbic IBTC, First,
Polaris, Fidelity Banks and FCMB respectively issued in the name of different card
holders, which cards you reasonably ought to know were taken out of the possession of
owners under circumstances which constitute card theft, and you thereby committed an
offence contrary to SECTION 319 (A) of the PENAL CODE and punishable under the same
SECTION 319 (A) of the PENAL CODE.”

While Musa was charged for retaining and taken possession of 714 ATM cards, Abdulwaheed Auwalu was charged under the same law for possession of 132 ATM cards.

Also charged on the same law was Usman Abdullahi who was charged for possession of 298 ATM cards.