It was drama galore at the Federal Capital Territory High Court at
Maitama yesterday, as the key suspect in the alleged illegal diversion of over
N40billion from the Police Pension Fund, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, directed
thugs to physically assault journalists that came to cover her arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had maintained
that it successfully traced about N1.1billion to one of the bank accounts
operated by Mrs. Attang, who is still in service as Director of Finance and
Accounts in the Ministry of Communications.
She was, hitherto, the Chief Accountant of the PPF where she served
between 2003 and 2008.
Meanwhile, irked by what she termed “unfavourable media reportage”,
Attang who was docked by the EFCC, alongside six former police pension
officials yesterday, monitored as a horde of thugs she brought to court,
attacked photojournalists inside the high court premises.
EFCC opted to transfer the case from Justice Talba following the
slap-on-the-wrist sentence he handed to one of the accused persons, John Yakubu
Yusufu, who was on January 28, sentenced to two years imprisonment with a fine
option of N750, 000, after he confessed that he conspired with the other
accused persons and stole about N23 billion from the police pension fund.
The other accused persons who took turns and pleaded not guilty to
the charge were Esai Dangabar, a former Permanent Secretary in the Office of
the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed
Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Uloma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian
Madubuike.
Justice Talba had on April 3, 2012, granted them bail in the sum of
N10 million each, just as they were ordered to produce two persons on grade
level-14 in the Civil Service that stood surety for each of them.
The court fixed June 3 and 4 to commence hearing on the substantive
charge against them.
Source: Vanguard
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