EFCC arraigns bank official in Gombe over alleged fraud

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a bank official, James Katung Kantiyok, before Justice M J Zubairu of the Federal High Court in Gombe for allegedly diverting funds totalling one hundred and five thousand dollars and two million Naira.

Kantiyok, a former head of the bullion unit in a new generation bank, was brought before the court on seven charges filed by the gombe zonal directorate of the commission. The charges accuse him of unlawful possession and criminal breach of trust.

According to one of the counts, the defendant allegedly retained one hundred and five thousand dollars between April 2024 and June 2025, money said to be proceeds of unlawful acts. Another count alleges he also took possession of two million naira during the same period. The commission says these acts violate the provisions of the money laundering prevention and prohibition act.

When the charges were read, Kantiyok pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel abubakar aliyu requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant. Defence counsel luka musa informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served.

After hearing both sides, Justice Zubairu granted bail in the sum of seventeen million naira. The judge ordered that one surety be a civil servant or public officer on directorate level or its equivalent, while the second must be a respected resident of Gombe.

The court also directed Kantiyok to submit his international passport and to report monthly to the EFCC office in Gombe or, alternatively, to any other EFCC office of his choice. Any planned travel outside the court’s jurisdiction must be disclosed to the commission.

Trial is scheduled to begin on March 3 and 4, 2025.