A self-confessed police pension thief, Yakubu Yusuf, was
yesterday re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
yesterday re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
Justice Abubakar Talba of an Abuja High Court had, in a
judgement he delivered this Monday, freed Yusuf by asking him to pay N750, 000
fine or spend two years in jail after he admitted that he had embezzled N32.8
billion.
judgement he delivered this Monday, freed Yusuf by asking him to pay N750, 000
fine or spend two years in jail after he admitted that he had embezzled N32.8
billion.
As at the time of filing this report, the convicted former
director of pension in the Police Affairs Ministry was still being held in the
EFCC custody in Abuja and will be arraigned today before a Federal High Court
in Abuja on a fresh charge of stealing N300million.
director of pension in the Police Affairs Ministry was still being held in the
EFCC custody in Abuja and will be arraigned today before a Federal High Court
in Abuja on a fresh charge of stealing N300million.
Yusuf was picked up by the EFCC on upon his arrival in his
residence.
residence.
Sources close to the EFCC told LEADRSHIP yesterday in Abuja that
the joy of the family of the convicted director was short-lived as EFCC
operatives whisked him away from his home in Abuja for interrogation and
later detained him.
the joy of the family of the convicted director was short-lived as EFCC
operatives whisked him away from his home in Abuja for interrogation and
later detained him.
But the EFCC legal team yesterday confirmed at the Federal High
Court premises that the convict was re-arrested on Monday in connection with
another case of fraud.
Court premises that the convict was re-arrested on Monday in connection with
another case of fraud.
It was gathered that a four-count criminal charge had already
been filed against him, preparatory to his arraignment before a federal high
court today.
been filed against him, preparatory to his arraignment before a federal high
court today.
In the fresh four-count criminal charge, the convicted former
federal director was accused of false declaration of assets contrary to section
27(3) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
federal director was accused of false declaration of assets contrary to section
27(3) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
He was also accused of keeping N250million in a private company,
SY-A Global Services Ltd, floated in the name of his family members as
directors and refused to disclose the asset in his asset declaration form.
SY-A Global Services Ltd, floated in the name of his family members as
directors and refused to disclose the asset in his asset declaration form.
The money was alleged to have been fixed in an account with
Zenith Bank.
Zenith Bank.
In the new charge signed by Mr. Chile Okoroma, EFCC director of
legal services, the former pension director was also accused of fixing another
N10million in his private company bank account at First Bank where he was the
sole signatory. He was also alleged to have fixed another N29m in another bank
account but failed to disclose his interest in his asset declaration form.
legal services, the former pension director was also accused of fixing another
N10million in his private company bank account at First Bank where he was the
sole signatory. He was also alleged to have fixed another N29m in another bank
account but failed to disclose his interest in his asset declaration form.
EFCC lead lawyer Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) confirmed that
necessary steps had been taken and that the accused person will be
arraigned in Abuja today.
necessary steps had been taken and that the accused person will be
arraigned in Abuja today.
The former pension director had, on Monday, forfeited 32
different properties to the federal government as proceeds of fraud in addition
to about N400m cash in a bank account traced to him.
different properties to the federal government as proceeds of fraud in addition
to about N400m cash in a bank account traced to him.
His conviction by Justice Talba followed his admission of guilty
plea to the criminal charge brought against him under section 309 of the
penal code.
plea to the criminal charge brought against him under section 309 of the
penal code.
Source: Leadership
