How task force exposed N1.1b monthly fraud in Police Pension Office

Ekpo-NtaTrial of suspects begins today

MORE insight into how the Pension Reform Task Team got to the root of the sharp practices came at the weekend as top officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spoke on how their initial findings were strengthened by the work of the panel.

They said the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, in February at a meeting with the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, presented unassailable facts on the corruption in the Police Pension Office.

Maina reportedly told the ICPC boss that his team uncovered a monthly fraud of N1.1 billion at the Police Pension Office and the recovering of N151 billion for the Federal Government through its scrutiny of the records and conduct of the officials of the office.

The task force boss had reportedly revealed another N28 billion fraud at the same Police Pension Office.

According to EFCC officials, Maina also disclosed unacceptable waste of public funds through over-employment, noting that 400 workers instead of 82 were employed in the office.

Armed with these fresh facts and others at its disposal, the EFCC proceeded to initiate a case against the then Director of the Police Pension Office, Atiku Abubakar Kigo at the court.

Kigo had been promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary and redeployed to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and recently reposted to the Head of Civil Service Office before his trial started.

The permanent secretary and five others were arraigned before an Abuja High Court last Thursday and remanded in Kuje Prison.     The court will today begin their prosecution in the N32.8 billion fraud.

The EFCC had earlier burst the scam at the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF) Pension Office mid 2011 when in a statement, by it then Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, accused the then Director, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaiu, of misconduct and theft of public funds.

Shuaiu allegedly carried out his illicit acts along with 31 others, including companies they used to siphon the pension funds for private use. He was taken to court, which granted him bail, a usual exercise before the full trial in corruption cases in Nigeria.

In November 2011, Shuaibu was re-arraigned along with nine other accused persons before the Federal High Court, Abuja in an amended 24-count charge over a N4.56 billion pension scam.

Thirty companies were also re-arraigned along with them before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Those that were re-arraigned then along with Shuaibu were Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi, Aliyu Bello, a Personal Assistant to Shuaibu, Garba Abdullahi Tahir, Emmanuel Olanipekun, and Abdullahi Omeiza,

The companies were Computer Plaza and Essential Gadget Ventures, Mobis Point Investment Ltd, Obista Enterprises, Shallow Well Ventures, Mof Investment Ltd, Zumba Resources, Pam Investment and Properties Ltd, Moshfad Enterprises, Newgate Projects Ltd, RedWings Energy Ltd, RedWing Procurement Services Ltd, Woodland Industries Nig Ltd.

Others were Nwab Tessy O Enterprises Nigeria, Chris J. Junior Ventures, Uthaka Nigeria Ltd, Bashinta Nigeria Ltd, Haleath Enterprises, Gozinda Enterprises, Omozua Ventures, S.S. Badejo Enterprises, Lopee Ventures, Fafama Oil and Gas Ltd, Fafama Estate Developer Ltd, and Riba-Ile Petroleum.

After approving the prosecution’s request, the 24-count charge was read to the accused who pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The prosecution counsel then asked for a date for the start of trial.

Shuaibu and his co-accused were admitted to the same bail condition they earlier enjoyed, which included the provision of N10 million each, with sureties in like sum, who must have property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which must be verified by the court with values not below N10 million.

Beside, the accused travel documents, which were with the EFCC, were transferred to the court.

Earlier on May 9, 2011, Justice Adamu Bello had ordered Shuaibu, and four other accused persons to be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the fulfillment of bail conditions granted them.

Justice Bello adjourned the matter till February 13 and 14, 2012 for the start of trial and directed that the arguments for the bail of the accused persons would continue. He further directed that persons added to the charge should also fulfill the same conditions as Shuaibu and others.

At the turn of events on March 26, 2012, the EFCC announced that it had seized the assets of Shuaibu. The commission cited a court order, which empowered it to seize the property, which included eight choice property of the former pension administrator.

The commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, explained that the property were placed on interim forfeiture following the order of Justice Bello, which he gave on July 11, 2011.

“The court granted an order permitting the Executive Chairman of EFCC to seize and retain custody of all the property or assets of persons… though not yet charged but found to be connected with the transaction or allegation contained in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2011,” Uwajaren had said.

The property/assets of Shuaibu, which the court ordered the EFCC to take over are at 24, Ahmadu Musa Crescent, Jabi, Abuja; Brefina Hotel at Plot 1106, (Beside MTN) Warehouse, adjacent to Vines Hotel, Durumi, Abuja; a house at 1, Shuaibu Close, opposite Governor’s House, Idah; Riba-Ile Petroleum Ltd; MRS Ajaka, (registered as Riba-Ile Oil Ltd; MRS Idah Station, Idah, registered with Hammo Oil Nigeria; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Station, Idah Junction, Ayingba, registered with Hammo Oil, Nig. Ltd; MRS Filling Station at Ganaja, Lokoja, registered with A.Y. Ted Oil Ltd; a mansion at Idah, opposite Federal Polytechnic, Idah; SunTrust Property Company Ltd; Plot B59, Dawaki Extension Layout, Bwari Area Council, Abuja; and an estate with 10 bungalows in Dantata Street, Nyanyan.

An operative of the EFCC confirmed to The Guardian that the property of the remaining 31 persons joined in the case would be seized as well.

The commission has also listed the case as one of its priority cases for this month.