N32b pension fraud trial: EFCC seizes 45 mansions

One of the seized houses

Anti-graft agency gets court’s nod to freeze six suspects’ bank accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  has received an interim order from the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal H. Gumi, to take possession of 45 assets of all the six persons who allegedly defrauded the Police Pension Office of N32.8 billion.
The order also covers the freezing of the accounts of the suspects.

The six suspects are Esai Dangabar, a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira.
All the suspects were arraigned on March 29  on  16 criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory , Gudu, Abuja.
According to a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, the EFCC had sought the leave of the court to seize the assets - in line with sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004.
Section 28 reads: “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.”
The EFCC said the judge ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of all the accused persons, pending the hearing and final determination of the corruption case against them.
The EFCC gave the breakdown  of the assets as follows: Dangabar(15), Mrs. Onyegbula(11),  Wada(six)  Kigo(five),  Yusuf(four) and Zira(four).

The statement said: “According to the order, all the bank accounts currently being operated and maintained by Inuwa Wada at Keystone and Zenith Bank, all totalling 11 in number, are hereby temporarily frozen until the determination of the charge Number FCT/Cr/64/2012.
“Similarly, all the bank accounts presently being operated and maintained by Esai Dangabar, Atiku A. Kigo and Veronica Onyegbula in the following banks: EcoBank, FCMB, Access Bank, Skye Bank, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Aso Savings, GTB, Mainstreet Bank and Wema Bank are hereby temporarily frozen pending the hearing and determination of all the said criminal charge No. FCT/64/2012 presently pending before this court,” the Judge is quoted as ruled.

“The 15 property belonging to Esai are: Block of three bedroom flats at Gwarinpa (six units), along EFAB Estate, Life camp; a Block of  three-bedroom flats (six units) at Mabushi District, beside Ministry of Works; Estate of four-bedroom duplexes (16 units) behind Wuye Modern Market, Abuja; a mini estate at 19, Ukpabi Asika Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 12 units of two-bedroom flats at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; five-bedroom duplexes at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; four-bedroom bungalows at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja;  two-bedroom flat at Zone C, Apo Resettlement Layout. Others are: five blocks of one-bedroom flats at Zone C, Apo Resettlement Layout, Abuja; twin duplex of five-bedroom & three rooms, 33, ML Wushishi  BQ 1 Crescent, Utako, Abuja; two blocks of three bedroom flats,  Area 3, former NYSC Office, Abuja; two-bedroom, Area 2, Abuja, behind Shopping  Complex , three-bedroom flats , 2 Goran village, along Adi Farms Ltd, Abuja-Keffi Road,  180,000 litres storage facility on a land of about  5,000sqm, with office building, workshop and 20 loading bay 1 Suleja,  Niger State.

“The 11 property belonging to Mrs. Onyegbula are: four-bedroom duplex  at No.3, Andorra  Street, Sun City, Galadimawa, Abuja; Building Housing Ulover International Resources Ltd, Kechis Bottling Company, Plot 140 - 142 Ehinmiri Housing  Estate, Umuahia, Abia State; Building (six-bedroom duplex), Housing Somadok, 14, Ola Adeshile Street, Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos; large plot of land for International Primary & Secondary School, Ehinmiri Housing Estate, Phase 2, Umuahia, Abia State;  a mansion with a BQ at Umugbalu Village, Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State.
Others are: two-storey building with shops and flats at No.l03, Ozuitem, Street, Enugu Road, Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; One, two-storey building with shops and flats at No. l04, Ozuitem Street, Enugu Road, Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; two-storey building of six flats at Ukaegbu Street, Aba, Abia State; Student Hostels at Michael Okpara University of Agric, Umudike, Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State; three bedroom duplex at No.1, Tola Adewumi Street, Off. Folarin Hospital, Maryland ; three-bedroom duplex at No.2, Tola Adewumi Street , Off Folarin Hospital, Maryland.

“The six property belonging to Wada are: four-bedroom duplex  at Block B4, Finance Quarters, Wuye, Abuja; house at Gwale, Kano;   house at Filling Mushe, Gwale Local Government Area, Kano; duplex at  Saudauna Crescent, Nassarawa Kano;  duplex at Dorayi Karshen Waya, behind Old BUK, Kano; house at  Unguwa Uku, Kano.
“The five property belonging to Kigo are a three-bedroom bungalow at 18 Uruguay Street, Panasonic Estate, Wuse 2; four-bedroom duplex at Gudu New layout, Abuja;  four-bedroom duplex at 35, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja;  a 4 bedroom duplex at FHA, Gwarinpa new Extension beside COCIN Church and  an International Secondary and Primary School (under  construction) at Kuje, Abuja.

“The Four property of Zira are: Concept College London, Gwarinpa, Close to Ecobank, Abuja; block of flats at FCDA Quarters, Phase II, Block J, Flat 1 & 2  Garki, Abuja ; hotel (aka Habila Hasike’s Hotel) beside Yasekule Primary School, on the same street with Michika Local Government Secretariat, Adamawa State;  A House at No.36, Malamre Wark, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.
“Yusuf’s property in Gombe and Abuja are: hotel (under construction, finishing level) behind Gombe State Investment Property Company Housing Estate,       Gombe State ; three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at UU1, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja ; three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at U20, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja .”