N6 Billion Fraud: Ex-Pensions Director Faces Fresh Trial

Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu

By: Tobi Soniyi

                               

The former Director, Pension Accounts Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, was Friday arraigned afresh in Abuja alongside Omoefe Uduesegbe and nine companies on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy and for allegedly defrauding the pension funds of about N6 billion.

They were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Consequent upon their "not guilty plea" their counsel, Sunday Ameh, SAN, made an oral application for their bail, but the trial judge refused to grant the application and asked them to file a formal application for bail.

Justice Ademola then ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody till June 18, 2013 when the court will hear argument on their bail application.

In a related development Aliyu Bello and Abdullahi Omeiza, alongside their companies were also arraigned Friday by the anti-graft agency for conspiracy and allegedly defrauding the Pensions Account of several millions of naira.

They were slammed with a five-count charge bordering on violation of Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.