EFCC CHAIRMAN IBRAHIM LAMORDE

Pension Scam: EFCC tenders documents on N2billion fraud in court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has tendered two sets of documents in the prosecution of  Shaibu Sani Teidi and two others who are being tried for a  N2billion check-off dues fraud at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The two others, who are being prosecuted for defrauding the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, are Ali Abatcha and Elder Actor Zal.

Two prosecution witnesses, Njoku Everest, Assistant General Secretary of the Union and Chikezie Aguocha, an official of First Bank of Nigeria, PLC were led in evidence by Emmanuel Nonso Egwuagu at the resumed hearing of the case.

While Everest tendered documents concerning total expenditure that was incurred by the union,  based on the money that came into the Union’s account between April 2008 to March 2011, Aguocha,  who was subpoenaed  on May 10, 2012.

Also seven documents which included statement of account of the NUP domiciled at the Garki branch of the bank and the statement of account from the date it was opened to December 31st , 2011 as requested was produced.

Other documents submitted are the account opening forms, mandate cards and reference forms and account update form. The payment instruction/instrument of the account within the stated period was also tendered before the court, was

Shuaibu Sani Teidi,  Ali Abatcha and Elder Actor Zal were alleged to have,  at various times, between 2008 and 2011 conspired to defraud,  obtained from the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria, various sums in the aggregate amount of over Two Billion Naira.

Teidi, while in the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria, allegedly used his position to over pay the Check-Off Dues to the NUP which in turn returned the excess payment to Teidi.

In the proof of evidence presented before the court, Elder Zal had in his confessional statement to EFCC alleged that various sums of money were paid to Dr. Shuaibu.

Zal said the NUP received N60, 958, 850.48 on April 23rd, 2009. Of the amount, N20 million was allegedly given to Dr. Shuaibu as kick back.

On August 14, 2009, N65, 500, 650 was received as check off dues and Teidi allegedly got N20 million as kick back.

He also said that of the N2, 290, 593, 322.95 that fraudulently accrued to NUP in the period of 2008 and 2011, N245, 000,000 was allegedly given to Teidi as kick back.

According to Zal, the reason Teidi gave for his demand was for onward distribution to the Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, Accountant-general office, National Assembly and EFCC to facilitate smooth payment of monthly pensions to the pensioners.

After cross-examination of the prosecution witness by the defence counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello, adjourned the case till October 16, 2012.


EFCC finds suspect in N30m fraud case

The EFCC on Thursday requested for a warrant to produce an accused, Mohammed Jameel, who is standing trial in a N30 million fraud case.

The EFCC arraigned Jameel on Sept. 5, 2010, on a four-count charge of obtaining N30 million under false pretence that he was awarded an oil bloc licence and wanted to sell it.

Jameel, however, jumped  bail granted him six months ago by Justice Abubakar Umar.

The judge later issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, EFCC counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulam, told the court that the long arm of the law had finally caught up with Jameel.

 He told the court that Jameel was also standing trial in Suleja, Niger, in a case of culpable homicide.

Ugwuegbulam told the court that Jameel was accused of killing his wife in a hotel room in Tafa, Niger.

He said the accused was alleged to have murdered his wife, Hadiza, on May 19, 2011.

Ugwuegbulam said EFCC could not produce the accused due to the non-signing of the production warrant by the judge of the High Court in Suleja.

He prayed the court to grant the commission a short adjournment to enable it to get the judge in Niger to endorse the warrant  so that the trial could begin.

The counsel told the court that the commission was ready to begin trial  as it had assembled all its witnesses for the case.

The judge said the warrant he issued to the EFCC was to ensure that the accused was produced in Abuja for trial and taken back to Suleja for criminal trial.

He adjourned the matter to July 12 for continuation of trial.