ABUJA—There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court sitting in
Abuja, day, as the convicted pension thief, Mr. John Yusufu, slumped inside the
dock shortly after trial Justice Adamu Bello deferred ruling on his bail
application till March 11.
Abuja, day, as the convicted pension thief, Mr. John Yusufu, slumped inside the
dock shortly after trial Justice Adamu Bello deferred ruling on his bail
application till March 11.
Yusufu, who was convicted on January 27 after he confessed to have
stolen about N23 billion from the Police Pension Fund, had been in Kuje Prison
since January 30, when he was re-arraigned over his alleged complicity in
another N300 million fraud.
stolen about N23 billion from the Police Pension Fund, had been in Kuje Prison
since January 30, when he was re-arraigned over his alleged complicity in
another N300 million fraud.
Prior to his
ordeal, the accused was an Assistant Director of Pension in the Police Affairs
Ministry.
ordeal, the accused was an Assistant Director of Pension in the Police Affairs
Ministry.
He is currently answering to a fresh 4-count
criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
The accused was said to have on or about
February 14, 2012, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets and
liability in the Declaration of Assets Form he filled and submitted, and
equally failed to declare that he owns a company known as AY-A Global Services
Limited.
February 14, 2012, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets and
liability in the Declaration of Assets Form he filled and submitted, and
equally failed to declare that he owns a company known as AY-A Global Services
Limited.
He was said to have used the name of the company
and lodged in a fixed deposit account with the Zenith Bank, the sum of N250
million, N10 million in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria
Plc, and another N29 million which he was said to have instructed one Danjuma
Mele to lodge in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services
Ltd with Diamond Bank.
and lodged in a fixed deposit account with the Zenith Bank, the sum of N250
million, N10 million in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria
Plc, and another N29 million which he was said to have instructed one Danjuma
Mele to lodge in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services
Ltd with Diamond Bank.
The offence according to the EFCC, is punishable
under section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(Establishment e.t.c) Act Cap E1 2004.
under section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(Establishment e.t.c) Act Cap E1 2004.
However, though Yusufu had through his lead
counsel, Mr. Maiyaki Bala, begged the court to allow him to go home on the day
he was docked, vowing that he would be available to face his trial.
counsel, Mr. Maiyaki Bala, begged the court to allow him to go home on the day
he was docked, vowing that he would be available to face his trial.
Justice Adamu Bello declined, saying he should
file a formal bail application.
file a formal bail application.
Though the court initially fixed March 1 to hear
the application, it subsequently adjourned the motion till yesterday to
entertain arguments from both the accused and the prosecution.
the application, it subsequently adjourned the motion till yesterday to
entertain arguments from both the accused and the prosecution.
At the resumed sitting yesterday, the accused
person pleaded the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, just as he
implored the court to take judicial notice that he has regularly attended his
trial with utmost dedication.
person pleaded the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, just as he
implored the court to take judicial notice that he has regularly attended his
trial with utmost dedication.
In opposition to his bail application dated
February 18, EFCC lawyer Chief Rotimi Jacobs, contended that the court must
exercise its discretion based on the established principles of facts of the
case, saying the court should consider the criminal antecedents of the accused
person.
February 18, EFCC lawyer Chief Rotimi Jacobs, contended that the court must
exercise its discretion based on the established principles of facts of the
case, saying the court should consider the criminal antecedents of the accused
person.
Rotimi emphasised that the accused was
previously convicted of criminal breach of trust, stressing that in view of
such criminal record, he should not be trusted to return before the court to
continue his trial once released from prison custody.
previously convicted of criminal breach of trust, stressing that in view of
such criminal record, he should not be trusted to return before the court to
continue his trial once released from prison custody.
Consequently, he urged trial Justice Bello to
allow the accused person to remain in custody pending hearing and determination
of the charge against him, adding that he would be ready to conclude the trial
within two clear days since his witnesses were all set to testify in the
matter.
allow the accused person to remain in custody pending hearing and determination
of the charge against him, adding that he would be ready to conclude the trial
within two clear days since his witnesses were all set to testify in the
matter.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Bello
deferred ruling on the bail application, just as he okayed one of the witnesses
who was in court yesterday to mount the dock.
deferred ruling on the bail application, just as he okayed one of the witnesses
who was in court yesterday to mount the dock.
At that juncture, the accused person who was
visibly apprehensive all through the proceeding slumped in the dock, a
situation that caused commotion in the court room with his lawyers rushing to
his aid.
visibly apprehensive all through the proceeding slumped in the dock, a
situation that caused commotion in the court room with his lawyers rushing to
his aid.
Sequel to the situation, Justice Bello had no
option than to adjourn the case till March 11, directing that the Prison
authorities should give medical attention to the accused person.
option than to adjourn the case till March 11, directing that the Prison
authorities should give medical attention to the accused person.
Source: Vanguard
