Abdullahi Shuaibu,
described by the New York Police department as an employee of the United
Nations was arrested for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch
hour.
Shuaibu, 53, a
journalist and former staff of the News Agency of Nigeria was picked up by
police on Monday and charged with robbery and attempted robbery for the crimes
committed during his two-month spree.
All four banks are
within walking distance of UN headquarters on First Ave. near E. 42nd St.,
where the Nigerian worked.
Authorities were led
to the suspect after a retired police officer who works at the UN recognised
him from a surveillance image previously released by the police.
In the first incident,
Shuaibu walked into a Santander Bank on Madison Ave. near E. 43rd St. on Feb.
27 and told the teller he had a gun. The bank employee complied and handed him
an unknown sum of money.
He hit two more banks
in March, first striking out at a Bank of America on Third Ave. near E. 47th
St. on the 13th.
He was also successful
in robbing a Santander Bank on Third Ave. and E. 63rd St. on the 27th.
During the most recent
incident on Monday, Shuaibu walked into an HSBC on Third Ave. and E. 40th St.
around 2:30 p.m. and passed a note demanding cash to the teller.
The teller did not
read the note and asked him for identification.
He, however,
instructed the teller to read the note, keeping his hand in his jacket pocket
while simulating a gun, police said.
Police arrested him
later in the day when he returned to the UN.
Shuaibu was an
employee of the News Agency of Nigeria and served as its UN correspondent
between 2006 and 2009.
The agency, however,
terminated his appointment in April 2013 following his refusal to resume work
in Nigeria at the expiration of duty tour and extended period which he
requested to enable him complete an academic programme.
The termination of
appointment was formally conveyed to the UN.
A UN spokesman
Stephane Dujarric denied that Shuaibu was a staff of the organisation.
He told NAN in New
York that the suspect was also not accredited to the UN after NAN withdrew his
accreditation.
Dujarric also said
that the suspect only worked as a contract staff for three months in Darfur and
his contract was terminated in 2013.
“Contrary to what was
reported, the suspect, Abdullahi Shuaibu, is not an employee of the United
Nations nor is he an accredited journalist to the United Nations nor was he
arrested at the United Nations.
“Until 2010, he was a
resident correspondent representing the News Agency of Nigeria.
“He did work very
briefly for the UN in October and November of 2013 but has never worked for the
United Nations since.”
However, Shuaibu on his LinkedIn page, describes himself as a “communications specialist at United Nations”.
However, Shuaibu on his LinkedIn page, describes himself as a “communications specialist at United Nations”.
The Consul General of
the Nigerian Consulate in New York, Mohammed Bello, told the Correspondent of
the News Agency of Nigeria that the Consulate has yet to receive such report.
Bello said the
Consulate would act accordingly when it receives the report
Shuaibu attended
Ahmadu Bello University between 1980 and 1985, where he studied International
Relations.
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