The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, and six others, for allegedly stealing N46 billion from police pension funds.
The seven suspects appeared before Justice Hussain Baba of an Abuja High Court on an amended 18 counts charge of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy involving N46 billion.
One of the suspects, who was absent during the previous arraignment, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, had her plea taken yesterday.
Supporters of one of the suspects manhandled some photographers who attempted to take her photograph after the proceedings.
According to the EFCC, “Attang, who was absent in court when the others were first arraigned, was in charge of the police pension fund when N7.8 billion was stolen through 10,863 cheques.”
“She was also discovered to have personally signed 1,042 cheques to the tune of N1, 141,309,080.25.
“Investigation revealed that Mrs. Attang used several companies to defraud the Police Pension Office,” the commission said.
Some of the companies, which she allegedly used, are: Royal Diadem Business Logistic Limited, Amazing Grace Property Development Company, Enyiuzo Ventures Limited, Status Symbols Rentals Limited, Status Travels and Tours Limited, Quillponte and Anifon Nigeria Limited.
Other accused persons, besides Kigo and Attang, are Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuike.
The 18-count (amended) charge is punishable under sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspects had earlier been arraigned alongside convicted pension thief John Yusuf before Justice Mohammed Talba.
However, as a result of that uproar that greeted the sentence meted out to Yusuf, the EFCC withdrew the trial of the remaining suspects from Justice Talba.
Justice Talba sentenced Yusuf to two years imprisonment, but gave him the option of a N750,000 fine.
The sentence infuriated many and drew uncomplimentary remarks both from within and outside the country against the judiciary.
The development caused the trial of the alleged pension thieves to be re-assigned to Justice Hussain Baba.
Count one of the amended charge alleged that the suspects conspired between January 2008 and June 2011, to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of N20.155 billion, an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The court fixed their trial for June 3 and 4, 2013.
Justice Talba said the bail granted the accused persons by the former judge should continue to run since they had complied with the conditions.
“In the same vein, the sixth accused (Attang) is granted bail on the same terms and conditions with other accused persons,” the judge said.
The indication given by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), not to oppose bail application, bearing in mind the fact that the case was transferred cleared the way for the accused person temporary freedom.
Justice Baba adjourned to June 3 and 4 for trial.
Outside the courtroom, a big drama was on. Relations of one of the suspects — Mrs Onyegbula—beat up some journalists trying to take her photograph after the proceedings.
Those manhandled include Femi Ipaye (TheNews), Jide Oyekunle (Daily Independent) and Rotimi Ósasona of National Mirror.
Osasona’s camera was damaged
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