Pension thief, Yusuf, gets N10m bail

Mr. John Yusuf

An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday granted the convicted pension thief, Mr. John Yusuf, bail in the sum of N10m.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dragged him before the court on January 30 over fresh four counts of non-disclosure of assets.

Yusuf, who, on January 28, 2013, was fined N750, 000 for conniving with others to defraud the Police Pension Office of N27.2bn, had been in custody since his arraignment.

The ruling on the bail application, initially fixed for March 11, 2013, was cancelled following the strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

However, Justice Adamu Bello, who granted Yusuf bail on Monday, noted that the court would impose conditions that would make it difficult for the pension thief to jump bail.

He therefore granted him bail in the sum of N10m and a “reliable” surety in like sum.

The court ordered that the surety must be a public servant, who is not below the rank of a director.

The surety must also have a landed property in the Federal Capital Territory, and the said property must not be less than the bail sum.

According to Justice Bello, Yusuf must also deposit his international passport with the court registrar, and he is not to travel outside the country without first seeking the court’s permission.

He also ordered that Yusuf must remain in custody until he meets the bail conditions.

Yusuf had slumped in the court after the EFCC opposed his bail application on March 4.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had asked the court to deny Yusuf bail, citing his “criminal antecedents” to justify the argument that he does not deserve bail.

Jacobs said, “Your Lordship will normally exercise discretion (to grant bail) based on established principles and the facts before the court.

“What is germane in this case is the criminal antecedents of the accused person.

“The accused person has been convicted previously for a criminal breach of trust; that is to show that the criminal record of the accused person does not encourage the exercise of discretion in his favour, particularly in light of the nature of the crime.”

The prosecution argued that it was in the interest of safety to keep Yusuf in custody pending the determination of the case.

EFCC also argued that Yusuf might interfere with investigation, or jump bail, if granted bail.

The prosecution further argued that the public outcry against Yusuf’s light sentence, and the fact that he might find it difficult to walk the streets freely, might also cause him to jump bail.

In the new charge, the EFCC accused Yusuf of contravening the provisions of section 27(3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act CAP E1 2004, by allegedly, failing to disclose his interest in a private company known as SY-A Global Services Limited, which he owns alongside members of his immediate family, in his assets declaration form.

PUNCH