Nigerian worker at UN arrested for allegedly robbing bank in U.S.

A United Nations (UN) employee was arrested for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch hour, New York Police has said.

Abdullahi Shuaibu, 53, 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 the 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 recognized 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 February 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 (NAN) 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 an employee 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 added that the suspect only worked as a contract staff for three months in Darfur and his contract was terminated in 2012.