EFCC Arraigns 40 Suspects Over An Alleged 4.5 Billion Naira Pension Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EF-CC) Monday re-arraigned a former Director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, and nine others, over an alleged fraud of about N4.56 billion.

They were arraigned, alongside 30 companies, before a Federal High Court in Abuja in an amended 24-count charge. The EFCC had at the resumption of hearing of the case before Justice Adamu Bello sought leave of the court to withdraw the earlier charge and replace it with a new 24-count charge which included names of companies suspected to have been used to perpetrate the fraud; a request which was granted.

Counsel to EFCC, Emmanuel Egweabu from the Chambers of Godwin Obla, thereafter applied that the charges be read to the accused persons who were all present in court. A statement from the commission said aside Shuaibu, others arraigned included Mrs. Phina Ukamaka, Chidi Aliyu Bello, Garba Abdullahi Tahir, Emmanuel Olanipekun and Abdullahi Omeiza.

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

Also arraigned 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.

Bello admitted all the accused to bail adjourned the matter to the February 13 and 14, 2012 for the commencement of trial. Bello had on May 9 ordered Shuaibu and four other accused persons to be remanded in Kuje prison pending the fulfilment of bail conditions granted them.