The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned ex-Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, for another trial with his Secretary, Ann Olachi for allegedly receiving stolen funds amounting to N738,621,019.99.
Maina and his secretary were arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gwagwalada, which was presided over by Justice Abubakar Kutigi.
At the second arraignment, the former Task Team chief was not on the wheelchair.
He walked into the court, aided by some warders.
There was also another scene at the court when Maina was accused of allegedly using the name of a former Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde to divert N5,476,000 out of the N738,621, 019.99.
He was said to have dishonestly received the N5, 476,000 through one Madubuke Christian and John Yakubu knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government.
Although the N5,476,000 was paid into a First Bank Account (4033010067733) of Madubuke Christian, Maina was said to have “fraudulently used the name of Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman” under the guise of payment for official code.
A report on how Lamorde’s name was used to siphon the N5,476,000 was part of the evidence against Maina.
“Mr. Christian Madubuke, who is a staff of Police Pension Office, was invited to the commission where he came and volunteered his statement under caution stating that:
He has never had any relationship monetary or otherwise with the former Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and neither has he ever been contacted by him or through his associates.
That the monies paid into his accounts said to be for Lamorde was only paid into his account on the directives of Mr. John Yakubu, who is the Assistant Director in-charge of Police Pension Office Account Unit.
That apart from that, he was also paid another sum of N2,738,000 estacode.
The EFCC also attached visa and travelling documents of 12 staff of the commission who participated in the biometrics Enrolment for the task force.
“That the staff of the commission that were scheduled and paid for the biometric exercise as listed, travelled for the exercise.
The said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.
The suspects were also alleged to have received N107,398,500 from the same Fredrick Hamilton Global Services through one Osarenkhoe Afe on July 8, 2010 barely six days after the first tranche of the diverted sum.
The EFCC said Abdulrasheed Maina and Ann Olachi between July and December 2011 in Abuja “dishonestly received an aggregate sum of N153,146,719.99 from Xangee Technologies (which company is facing a separate charge before this court) knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.
The EFCC prosecutor, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Mohammed Abubakar, opposed bail for Maina because “he has no valid Nigerian passport and he might escape from the country with his American passport which is still valid.”
He said the second suspect, Ann Olachi, can be granted bail on the condition that she will deposit all her traveling documents with the court.
The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Kutigi upheld the remand of Maina in Kuje Prison as previously effected by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
He, however, ordered that Ann be taken to Suleja Prison pending the ruling on her bail applications.
The ruling has been fixed for November 28
