Pension Scam: Accused Ill Health Stalls Trial

The trial of a former Special Assistant to the Director of Administration (Pension Accounts), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Aliyu Bello, and a Sokoto State school teacher, Abdullahi Omeiza, before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja could not proceed on February 17, 2015 as the first accused claimed he was unfit following injuries sustained in an attack by armed robbers.

The accused persons are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 5-count charge bordering on criminal conversion and stealing of over N1bn (one billion naira) from the Pension Account, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Bello and Omeiza, are alleged to have at various times between 2009 and 2010 obtained by false pretence and with intent to defraud, from Pension Account, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, various sums in the aggregate amount of N281, 623,351.87 through various third parties and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (A) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to EFCC, Emmanuel Egwuagwu, standing in for Godwin Obla, SAN, told the court that, they were ready to proceed with the case.

Though both accused were present in court, the defence counsel, Mahmood A. Magaji, SAN, expressed concern over the health of the first accused (Bello) whom he said was unfit.  The counsel stated the accused is still recuperating from a head injury sustained during an armed robbery attack over the weekend.

Justice Ademola, in the circumstance, adjourned the case to April 28, 2015 for continuation of trial.