Pension scam thief slumps during trial

THE trial of a former Deputy Director at the Police Pension Office, John Yusufu, took a different twist on Monday, as the accused, who is standing trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, slumped during court proceedings. The trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, however, adjourned till April 22 to enhance the accused to get medical attention. Yusufu was last month remanded in kuje prison pending the determination of his bail, application.

Yusufu’s counsel, Theodore Mayaki, had earlier applied to the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge against him.

However, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the court to deny the application and allow Yusufu to remain in custody pending trial.

In a counter affidavit opposing the application, he said Yusufu had been convicted previously for criminal breach of trust and it would be in his interest to be kept in custody to prevent the possibility of him being mobbed by aggrieved members of the public.

He added that Yusufu would interfere with investigation and was most likely to jump bail, considering the fact that he would no longer be in the employment of the Federal Ministry of Works after the conclusion of the procedure to relieve him of his appointment.

Yusufu is alleged to have knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets in the declaration of assets form which he filled last February.

He is said to have failed to declare his interest in a company known as SY-A Global Services Limited, which is solely owned by him and members of his immediate family.
The offence is punishable under Section 27 (3) of the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act (2004).

Yusufu is equally alleged to have failed to declare his interest in a N250 million fixed deposit account in the name of the said company and maintained by Zenith Bank Plc.
The company is also alleged to have a N10 million fixed deposit account it maintains at FirstBank of Nigeria Plc.

The anti-graft agency similarly accused Yusufu of fixing another N29 million through one Danjuma Mele, who is expected to testify as witness in the trial.

The money was allegedly fixed on Yusufu’s instructions through Mele’s company, Jidag Technical Services Limited in Diamond Bank Plc. Yusufu pleaded not guilty to all four counts.