A Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta, Abubakar Kigo and 5 others who were arraigned today over a N32.8 billion fraud in the police pension’s administration have been remanded to Kuje prisons pending their bail hearing.
The accused persons Abubakar Kigo, Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, and Sani Habila Zira are standing trial on a 16- count charge that borders on criminal breach of trust by public officers, brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and punishable under the Penal Code Act.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty to all the charges level against them were remanded to Kuje prisons by trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Bello Talba, who set Tuesday 3rd April 2012, for hearing their bail application, and the 28th of May 2012 for commencement of Trial.
Defense counsel Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who made verbal bail applications for the accused persons, pleaded with the trial judge to remand the accused to EFCC custody.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs told the court he did not object to the accused persons granted bail, but submitted that formal proceeding is adhered to, before bail is granted.
However, Justice Mohammed Bello Talba in his ruling submitted that the EFCC is not known to be a holding facility for accused persons, consequently sending the accused persons to Kuje prisons until their bail is determined.
Until his promotion to the position of permanent secretary, Abubakar Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office, in the office of the head of service of the Federation, and it was during his stint there that he allegedly connived with the others to tamper with the pension funds.
The accused persons Abubakar Kigo, Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, and Sani Habila Zira are standing trial on a 16- count charge that borders on criminal breach of trust by public officers, brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and punishable under the Penal Code Act.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty to all the charges level against them were remanded to Kuje prisons by trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Bello Talba, who set Tuesday 3rd April 2012, for hearing their bail application, and the 28th of May 2012 for commencement of Trial.
Defense counsel Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who made verbal bail applications for the accused persons, pleaded with the trial judge to remand the accused to EFCC custody.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs told the court he did not object to the accused persons granted bail, but submitted that formal proceeding is adhered to, before bail is granted.
However, Justice Mohammed Bello Talba in his ruling submitted that the EFCC is not known to be a holding facility for accused persons, consequently sending the accused persons to Kuje prisons until their bail is determined.
Until his promotion to the position of permanent secretary, Abubakar Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office, in the office of the head of service of the Federation, and it was during his stint there that he allegedly connived with the others to tamper with the pension funds.
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