Pension Theif! EFCC Arrests. Former Assistant Director.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 arraigned Phina Chidi, a
former Assistant Director, Pension Department, Office of the
Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria, Franklin
Nwankwo and Pam Investment Properties before Justice
Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court on a 15-count
charge of obtaining by false pretence and money laundering
to the tune of N1.6 billion and $2 million.
Chidi was initially charged alongside Shuaibu Sani Teidi,
former director, Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of
Service of the Federation of Nigeria before Justice Adamu
Bello.
Her re-arrangement followed the ruling of the court to split
the charge in order to have each accused person stand
separate trial for their alleged involvement in the pension
scam.
Count two of the charge reads: "That you, Phina Chidi ( while
serving as Assistant Director, Pension Department, Office of
the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria), at various
times between January 2009 and December 2010, within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, obtained for yourself
by false pretences and with intent to defraud, through
fictitious contracts payments to Cenco Enterprises, various
sums of money amounting in aggregate to N74, 350, 000.00
(Seventy Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Naira only) from the Federal Government of Nigeria through
the Pension Account held by the Office of the Head of
Service of the Federation of Nigeria, and thereby committed
an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006 and
punishable under Section 1(30) of the Advance Fee Fraud
and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006".
The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charge when read
to them.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Godwin Obla (SAN)
asked the court for a date to commence trial.
However, counsel to the first accused person, Godwin Uche
urged the court to admit his client to bail adding that he had
earlier been granted bail in May, 2011 by Justice Adamu
Bello.
Speaking in the same vein, N.H Nwankwo and Deji Akande
counsel to the second and third accused persons prayed the
court for similar relief. The prosecution raised no objection
to their prayers.
Ironically, a surety to the first accused person, Mr Sony
Erimi told the court that he wished to withdraw from being
her surety saying he no longer wants to continue to play the
role.
Justice Kolawole, after listening to the submission of all the
parties adopted the bail terms formerly granted by Justice
Adamu Bello by granting the accused persons bail in the
sum of Ten Million Naira each and sureties who must be
resident in Abuja.
He also ordered that Mr. Sony Erimi be discharged from the
obligation of being a surety and his title documents released
to him.
The case has been adjourned to February 4 and 5, 2015 for
commencement of trial.
In a related development, the trial of Tahir Abdullahi whose
company, Charo Bureau De Change was used to siphon
money in the pension office in the office of the Head of
Service of the Federation of Nigeria commenced with
presentation of PW1, Mr. Bright Okunzuwa, Zenith Bank
Zonal Compliance Officer, Maitama Branch, Abuja and PW2,
Mr Oyedeji Olutobi Ecobank Compliance Officer who were
both summoned to present some documents.
Okunzuwa who was led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Obla
presented affidavit attesting to the certificate of evidence
which was admitted as exhibit 1. He also presented a letter
written to Zenith Bank and addressed to Pension Fraud Unit
of EFCC for account opening package of Charo Bureau de
Change which was admitted as exhibit 1a series and bank
statement admitted as exhibit 1b series.
During cross examination by counsel to the defendant,
Nicholas O. Eku, the witness told the court that the content
of the statement of the account is not known to him, and
that he was aware of the threshold to report suspicious
transaction. He further told the court that, he had no idea on
how the account was run.
Olutobi, on his part, presented to the court an affidavit
attesting to the certificate of evidence which was admitted as
exhibit 1c, account opening package of Mr. Tahir Abdullahi
as exhibit 1d, statement of the account from January 2007 to
December 31, 2011 as exhibit 1e series.
Olutobi also told the court that he was not aware of any
documents that was given to EFCC on suspicious transaction;
that he was not also conversant with the contents of the
statement of the account.
The case has been fixed for January 29, 2015 for
continuation of trial.
The accused was arraigned by EFCC on January 8, 2014 on a
one count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
The count reads: "that you Garba Abdullahi Tahir at various
times between 3rdJune 2009 and 17th May 2010 within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, obtained by false
pretence and with intent to defraud from the Pensions
Account, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of
Nigeria, various sums in the aggregate amount of N47,251,
345.00 (Forty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Fifty One
Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) and thereby
committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the
Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,
2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006."



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