No less than two military officers fingered in the alleged stealing
of military pension funds to the tune of N339 million have been
remanded in prison custody on the order of the Federal Capital Territory
High court.
According to The Sun News, the suspects, Wing Commander Ishaka
Yakubu, Lieutenant Commander Akinbamidele Odunsi were alleged to have
worked in concert with two bank officials, Adidemi Aderemi Kolade and
Violet Ofoegbunam to collect monies meant for payment of death benefits
to deceased army officers, and converted same to personal use.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ((EFCC), who dragged
them before Justice D. Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court, Jabi, said their
action breached Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 LFN (Abuja)
1990, and punishable under the same Act.
They were arraigned on a 6-count charge of conspiracy and stealing
of pension funds, according to the spokesman of the commission, Wilson
Uwujaren.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Wing Commander Ishaka
Yakubu ‘m’ while serving as a cashier with the Military Pension Board,
Lieutenant Commander Akinbamidele Odunsi ‘M’ being an Assistant
Director, computer, while serving with the Military Pension Board, Mrs
Abidemi Aderemi Kolade ‘F’ being a Relationship Manager while serving
with United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Kuforudua Branch- Abuja and Violet
Ofoegbunam ‘F’ being a Branch Manager while serving with UBA Plc,
Kuforodua Branch-Abuja, on or about February, 2016 in Abuja within the
Jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
while being entrusted with dominion over money belonging to the Nigeria
Military Pension Board dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of
N339.374million only which was withdrawn from the Military Pension Board
Account with pretence that, the said sum represented payments to the
supposed next of kin to deceased Nigerian as death benefit, that the
said monies were paid and withdrawn in tranches and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN (
Abuja) 1990”..
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Steve Odiase, asked the
court to fix a date for hearing and to remand the accused persons in
custody pending trial.
Odiase invited the court to take note of the fact that, Yakubu and
Odunsi (1st and 2nd defendants) had on several dates refused to come to
court, “an attempt aimed at frustrating efforts to have them arraigned
over the alleged offence”.
He urged the court to impose stringent conditions should it be persuaded to admitting the defendants to bail.
However, Yakubu’s counsel, Patrick Ediale, informed the court of a
pending application dated November 2, 2017, praying the court to admit
his client to bail.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the
defendant saying, “he is presumed innocent until the contrary is
proved”.
Other counsel in the defence also joined in seeking bail for their clients.
Justice Senchi, while ordering the remand of the defendants adjourned to November 13, for hearing of their applications.