THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on
Wednesday, arraigned a serving Director of Finance and Accounts at the
federal civil service, Mrs Uzoma Cyril Attang, over her alleged
complicity in the N29.8 billion police pension scam.
Mrs Attang ought to have been arraigned alongside the convicted Assistant Director, John Yusufu and six others before Justice Mohammed Talba.
It is recalled that Justice Talba had sentenced Yusufu to a two-year jail term with an option of N750,000 fine, a sentence which generated a lot of controversies and drew uncomplimentary remarks against the nation’s judiciary in the fight against corruption.
Justice Talba is currently being investigated by a panel set up by the National Judicial Council.
Meanwhile, following a public outcry, the trial of the alleged pension thieves was re-assigned to Justice Hussain Baba of the same court.
In view of the re-assignment, the other six accused were re-arraigned on an amended 18-count criminal charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, punishable under sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mrs Attang pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
Other accused persons — Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Uloma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuike — who were re-arraigned, also pleaded not guilty.
While adjourning till June 3 and 4 for trial, Justice Hussein held that all the accused should maintain the bail earlier granted them by Justice Talba.
Mrs Attang had previously escaped trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal last September, where she was scheduled to be tried on allegations of acquisition of landed property both in Abuja and Lagos, which value her salary, as a Director in the Federal Civil Service, could not have legitimately acquired.
A statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday reads: “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.
“Investigation revealed that Mrs Attang used several companies to defraud the Police Pension Office. 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.”
Count one of the amended charge reads: “That you Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Mrs Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christian Madubuke between January 2008 and June 2011 at Abuja in the Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory agreed to do an illegal act, to wit:criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of the sum of 20, 154, 728, 660.18.” (twenty billion, one hundred and fifty four million, seven hundred and twenty eight thousand, six hundred and sixty naira and eighty kobo) and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.”
TRIBUNE
Mrs Attang ought to have been arraigned alongside the convicted Assistant Director, John Yusufu and six others before Justice Mohammed Talba.
It is recalled that Justice Talba had sentenced Yusufu to a two-year jail term with an option of N750,000 fine, a sentence which generated a lot of controversies and drew uncomplimentary remarks against the nation’s judiciary in the fight against corruption.
Justice Talba is currently being investigated by a panel set up by the National Judicial Council.
Meanwhile, following a public outcry, the trial of the alleged pension thieves was re-assigned to Justice Hussain Baba of the same court.
In view of the re-assignment, the other six accused were re-arraigned on an amended 18-count criminal charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, punishable under sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mrs Attang pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
Other accused persons — Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Uloma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuike — who were re-arraigned, also pleaded not guilty.
While adjourning till June 3 and 4 for trial, Justice Hussein held that all the accused should maintain the bail earlier granted them by Justice Talba.
Mrs Attang had previously escaped trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal last September, where she was scheduled to be tried on allegations of acquisition of landed property both in Abuja and Lagos, which value her salary, as a Director in the Federal Civil Service, could not have legitimately acquired.
A statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday reads: “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.
“Investigation revealed that Mrs Attang used several companies to defraud the Police Pension Office. 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.”
Count one of the amended charge reads: “That you Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Mrs Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christian Madubuke between January 2008 and June 2011 at Abuja in the Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory agreed to do an illegal act, to wit:criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of the sum of 20, 154, 728, 660.18.” (twenty billion, one hundred and fifty four million, seven hundred and twenty eight thousand, six hundred and sixty naira and eighty kobo) and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.”
TRIBUNE
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