N14.3bn pensions scam: EFCC arraigns perm sec, secretary, directors, others today

Posted by Mgbenka at Thursday, March 29, 2012 |

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, this morning, arraign a serving federal permanent secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, two directors and three others in connection with an alleged N14.3 billion scam rocking the police pension fund.
Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office, before he was made the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta. He was recently transferred to the Head of Service and expected to resume tomorrow.
The spokesperson of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the planned arraignment before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, at Gudu.
Those listed for trial alongside Kigo were Esei Dangada, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs Veronica Uloma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira.
They were collectively facing a 16-count charge of theft and money laundering.
Kigo and two directors had earlier been arrested by the commission, quiz-zed and released on administrative bail in connection with the alleged scam.
While one of the suspects allegedly confessed to embezzling N1.9 billion, the second was alleged to have confessed to tampering with N3 billion and the third, allegedly confessing to an N8 billion sleaze.
The commission also confirmed that it had quizzed the embattled Director-General of the Security Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, over the alleged corruption brickbats between her and the chairman of the dissolved House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Other Financial Institution, Honourable Her-man Hembe.
Uwujaren told the Nigerian Tribune that Oteh had made statement alongside three others.
The commission said it was intensifying investigation on the alleged scam, while it also confirmed that its operatives were gathering documents and oral evidence that could be useful in unraveling the corruption allegation between the DG of SEC and Hembe.


http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/38408-n143bn-pensions-scam-efcc-arraigns-perm-sec-secretary-directors-others-today